BIOTECHNOLOGY OUTREACH FUNDING REQUEST.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000039

STATE FOR EEB/TPP/MTAA/ABT MSZYMANSKI, JBOBO
USDA FAS FOR OCRA/SNENON, BBAYSINGER, OSTA/MCHESLEY, EJONES
BRUSSELS FOR AG MINISTER COUNSELOR, AGATT LEISHMAN,
EU MEMBER STATES FOR AGR, PAS AND ECON

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD EZ PL LO LH
SUBJECT: BIOTECHNOLOGY OUTREACH FUNDING REQUEST.

REFS: A) 2008 STATE 129940
B) Bratislava 009
C) 2008 Warsaw 1114


1. This is a joint cable from missions in Prague, Warsaw, Vilnius,
and Bratislava requesting Agricultural Biotechnology Outreach Funds
announced ref A. The joint mission proposal intends to develop a
biotechnology outreach program using the Czech Republic as a hub for
the central Europe and Baltic region.


2. The Czech Republic belongs to a limited number of countries in
Europe with a pragmatic and scientific based approach to
agricultural biotechnology. The Czech government, including its
Ministry of Environment, works hard to provide objective, factually
based information to its consumers. This open scientific approach
makes the Czech Republic an attractive potential investment by
biotechnology companies for vaccine and agricultural development.
This year after the French government's ban on growing GM crops, the
Czech Republic became the second largest grower of Bt corn in the
EU. If other biotech varieties were EU approved they would be
planted in the Czech Republic. The Czechs do not plan to focus on
biotechnology during their EU presidency, and will not oppose other
member states' bans on biotech. Its Agricultural Ministry and
scientists, however, are open to regional cooperation. At present,
the Czech Republic leads the EU Presidency until June 30, 2009.


3. As reported ref B, since Slovakia introduced a co-existence law
in 2007, farmers have steadily increased the planting of genetically
modified corn, up now to 2000 hectares. There is reason for
optimism. Ref C, reports that in Poland, a pro biotech coalition is
active. The nation is experiencing a disastrous outbreak of the
European Corn Borer, which destroys $400 million worth of the Polish
corn crop annually, losses that could easily be prevented by
planting Mon 810 Bt corn, which is commercially available in the EU.
Polish producers have planted 3,000 hectares of GM corn. A draft
cultivation law is in play and has been sent to the EU Commission
for review to see if it complies with EU regulations. In Lithuania,
recent Embassy work has generated interest in agricultural
biotechnology. Rapeseed growers and the Agriculture Ministry have
made requests for visiting speakers, printed materials, and travel
to the United States. Lithuania does not grow GM crops yet, but if
there was a rapeseed GM variety available in the EU they might.
This government's viewpoint has shifted towards more acceptance of
the technology.


4. Posts can identify many obstacles to overcome with the
acceptance of agricultural biotechnology. The activities proposed
for funding address several. First, the press and consumers have
yet to hear about benefits accruing to the public at large. One
new, relevant benefit is the development of crops resistant to the
effects of climate change. In Africa there are now field trials of
drought resistant corn crops that in just a few more years will be
widely available. Without GM corn, African farmers will be unable
to cultivate this crop due changes in climate. Discussing how the
technology can be useful in dealing with the consequences of climate
change and to combat hunger will be a powerful message for
Europeans. Second, each of the countries in Central and Eastern
Europe has strong administrative controls that create bureaucratic
hassles for producers. Even the Czech Ministry of Environment was
prevented by legislators from streamlining administrative
procedures. An expert in environmental control, traveling to the
region, can continue to assure stakeholders on risk assessment
principles and try to influence regulators for better management of
the technology in open release.


5. Project 1: Bring experts from the United States to Prague and
the region. This proposal funds travel to the region of U.S.
scientists with expertise in the environmental control of biotech
crops. This project addresses the fundamental concern of local
politicians to retain their nation's cultural identity as a source
for high-quality foods. Funds will be used for one team of three to
visit the Czech Republic. The team will be joined by one African
scientist, from Malawi, who can be funded separately, and report on
field trials for drought resistant GM corn. Separate funds are
available from a former USDA food aid local currency account
available in Poland for African traveler. Two major events are
planned for the Czech Republic, a conference in Prague and then
local travel to Brno for press at the Igor Mendel Museum.
Afterwards, U.S. experts will continue to Lithuania and Slovakia for
further presentations and press. African representative will
continue to Poland, as required to use USDA funds. Experts will
make presentations on appropriate risk management for coexistence of

PRAGUE 00000039 002 OF 002


crops to stakeholders in the industry and farm lobbies. Posts
intend to use the IIB list to identify U.S. candidates. Request:
$17,000. (USDA will jointly fund $5,000 for African TDY)


6. Project 2: Translating summaries of scientific articles from
Czech into Polish, Lithuanian, and Slovakian languages, for use by
local press and embassy contacts. This activity connects scientists
from the Czech Republic with mainstream media and embassies'
contacts regionally, helping to build networks among regional
scholars. New science and field trials emerge from Czech
researchers often and this activity will accelerate the
dissemination of that information regionally. Posts note that in
past years, scientific information such as new environmental studies
has been transferred to academics only in English. Our mission will
partner with academic institutions to pay for translation and use
scientific and embassy outreach to distribute them in the region.
This activity will strengthen the strong scientific partnership
between academia and the Embassy. Request: $11,000.


7. Embassy Warsaw understands the reporting requirements as
outlined in ref A. The responsible officer for the program is Eric
Wenberg, Agricultural Counselor, resident in Warsaw
(eric.wenberg@fas.usda.gov) supported in Prague by FAS LES
Specialist Jana Mikulasova (jana.mikulasova@fas.usda.gov). Also
assisting in Prague will be Economic Officer, Margaret Bula-Duane
(Bula-DuaneM@state.gov),in Vilnius, Economic Officer Daniel Gage
(gagedl@state.gov),and in Bratislava, Economic Officer, Michael
Tran (tranmj@state.gov). Missions intend to cooperate closely and
include PAS assistance. Thank you for your consideration.

Thompson-Jones