Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ISLAMABAD1267
2009-06-10 09:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
FUNDING FOR SYMPOSIUM ON WHEAT STEM RUST FOR PAKISTAN,
how-toVZCZCXRO4998 RR RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #1267 1610904 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 100904Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3167 INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 5061 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0462 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0613 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 1807 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 7409 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 6352
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001267
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD EAID PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: FUNDING FOR SYMPOSIUM ON WHEAT STEM RUST FOR PAKISTAN,
AFGHANISTAN, AND IRAN
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001267
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD EAID PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: FUNDING FOR SYMPOSIUM ON WHEAT STEM RUST FOR PAKISTAN,
AFGHANISTAN, AND IRAN
1. (SBU) The establishment of a Trilateral Board to support
collaborative and applied agricultural research was agreed to at the
agricultural breakout session of the May 7-8 trilateral meetings
with the U.S., Afghanistan, and Pakistan. In response, the Pakistan
Agricultural Research Council (PARC) has proposed hosting a
symposium under the auspices of the Trilateral Board to address the
threat of the UG-99 wheat stem rust to the regional wheat crop.
2. (SBU) PARC intends to invite leading scientists from
Afghanistan, the United States and other countries to attend the
symposium, scheduled to take place in Islamabad this year in
mid-August. PARC would also like to invite scientists from Iran,
where UG-99 is already present and causing crop damages. PARC has
requested USG support or co-sponsor the event. Post proposes the
use of USD 10,000 of Embassy Islamabad's Public Diplomacy funds to
co-sponsor the symposium.
3. (SBU) The wheat crops of Pakistan and Afghanistan are threatened
by a new, devastating form of stem rust known as UG-99. This is a
new strain of stem rust that is virulent on more than 85 percent of
all wheat varieties globally, and represents a potential threat to
world food security on a similar scale to that posed by avian flu
for human health. Since discovery in Uganda in 1999, the disease
has spread to Kenya in 2001, Ethiopia in 2003, Yemen in 2006, and
Iran in 2007. Mapping the progress of the disease shows that it is
only a matter of time before the disease appears in Pakistan and
Afghanistan.
4. (SBU) Comment: The participation of Iran in a regional symposium
on UG-99 makes sound scientific sense, as there have been reported
incidences of UG-99 in Iran. The prevalence of UG-99 in this year's
crops in Iran has direct implications for the prospects of next
year's crops in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
PATTERSON
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD EAID PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: FUNDING FOR SYMPOSIUM ON WHEAT STEM RUST FOR PAKISTAN,
AFGHANISTAN, AND IRAN
1. (SBU) The establishment of a Trilateral Board to support
collaborative and applied agricultural research was agreed to at the
agricultural breakout session of the May 7-8 trilateral meetings
with the U.S., Afghanistan, and Pakistan. In response, the Pakistan
Agricultural Research Council (PARC) has proposed hosting a
symposium under the auspices of the Trilateral Board to address the
threat of the UG-99 wheat stem rust to the regional wheat crop.
2. (SBU) PARC intends to invite leading scientists from
Afghanistan, the United States and other countries to attend the
symposium, scheduled to take place in Islamabad this year in
mid-August. PARC would also like to invite scientists from Iran,
where UG-99 is already present and causing crop damages. PARC has
requested USG support or co-sponsor the event. Post proposes the
use of USD 10,000 of Embassy Islamabad's Public Diplomacy funds to
co-sponsor the symposium.
3. (SBU) The wheat crops of Pakistan and Afghanistan are threatened
by a new, devastating form of stem rust known as UG-99. This is a
new strain of stem rust that is virulent on more than 85 percent of
all wheat varieties globally, and represents a potential threat to
world food security on a similar scale to that posed by avian flu
for human health. Since discovery in Uganda in 1999, the disease
has spread to Kenya in 2001, Ethiopia in 2003, Yemen in 2006, and
Iran in 2007. Mapping the progress of the disease shows that it is
only a matter of time before the disease appears in Pakistan and
Afghanistan.
4. (SBU) Comment: The participation of Iran in a regional symposium
on UG-99 makes sound scientific sense, as there have been reported
incidences of UG-99 in Iran. The prevalence of UG-99 in this year's
crops in Iran has direct implications for the prospects of next
year's crops in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
PATTERSON