Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09UNVIEVIENNA499
2009-11-04 15:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED
UNVIE
Cable title:  

IAEA/TC: Cooperation on Food Safety in Latin America and

Tags:  AORC ENRG TRGY XL XM KNNP IAEA 
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VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUNV #0499/01 3081520
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 041520Z NOV 09
FM USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0255
INFO RUEHII/VIENNA IAEA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEANFA/NRC WASHDC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000499 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA, IO/T, ISN/NESS, ISN/MNSA
PLEASE PASS USAID; WHA PLS CONSIDER REPEAT TO REGIONAL POSTS
NRC FOR JSCHWARTZMAN, MDOANE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC ENRG TRGY XL XM KNNP IAEA
SUBJECT: IAEA/TC: Cooperation on Food Safety in Latin America and
the Caribbean

UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000499

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA, IO/T, ISN/NESS, ISN/MNSA
PLEASE PASS USAID; WHA PLS CONSIDER REPEAT TO REGIONAL POSTS
NRC FOR JSCHWARTZMAN, MDOANE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC ENRG TRGY XL XM KNNP IAEA
SUBJECT: IAEA/TC: Cooperation on Food Safety in Latin America and
the Caribbean


1. (U) SUMMARY: IAEA Technical Cooperation (TC) efforts to advance
nuclear applications for food security in Latin America are
exemplary within the Agency for their regional integration and
partnering, but much work lies ahead. Under TC Director for Latin
America Juan Antonio Casas-Zamora's leadership, members of the
Regional Cooperative Agreement for the Advancement of Nuclear
Science and Technology in Latin America and the Caribbean (ARCAL)
and the IAEA/TC Division have strengthened their working
relationship in food safety/security, human health, water resource
management, and agriculture. While there have been positive steps
forward, including the planning of regionally integrated projects
that draw not only on IAEA expertise but also other partners (WHO,
FAO),challenges remain in the region due to a lack of human
capacity and environmental hazards associated with the introduction
of new pests. END SUMMARY

REGIONAL SITUATION
--------------

2. (U) According to a 2008 ARCAL report on food safety, ten percent
of the world's population lives in Latin America and the Caribbean,
a region comprising 15 percent of the world's surface area. The
region provides 21 percent of the world's fruit production, 7.68
percent of cereal production, 7.73 percent of root and tuber
production and 11.97 percent of grain legume production. Along with
high production, however, come consequences that include a
progressive degradation of arable soils, the continual reduction of
natural woodland, and loss of biodiversity.

IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES
--------------

3. (U) As the TC Division continues to implement projects in food
safety/security and agriculture; it continues to experience systemic
problems in the region. One of the main issues is that scientific
and technological institutions work in isolation of each other on a
national and regional level. This often leads to duplication of
activities and expenditures. With duplication comes a lack of
continuity in research resulting in sometimes vastly different
requests from national governments to fill perceived needs in a
specific area. A nearly constant changeover in senior leadership of
major scientific institutions also strains project implementation
and results in a loss of human knowledge/training as people move in
and out of jobs. While the lack of human capacity certainly strains
coherent implementation, environmental threats also add stress. The
continued introduction of exotic pests and diseases and the
potential emergence of new pests and diseases owing to the
indiscriminate use of agrochemicals is a great concern in many
agriculture projects.

REGIONAL NEEDS
--------------

4. (U) According to a 2008 ARCAL report and Mission's recent
conversations with TC officials, there is a huge need for further
human capacity building (training/education) in the application of
nuclear techniques in agriculture and human health. There are also
deficiencies in laboratory capacities in the region. TC officials
note that if this need for training and modernization of
laboratories is not addressed, it will be difficult to extend and
disseminate nuclear techniques to support technological development
in agriculture and human health in the region. There is also a
continued need for work in curbing the presence of fruit flies and
coddling moths in the region. As in Africa, fruit flies cause
serious damage (up to 20-40 percent losses) to the Latin
American/Caribbean region's crops. The IAEA/TC Division continues
to work on establishing fruit fly-free or low-prevalence areas
through the use of the sterile insect technique (SIT),which is
currently the most effective and environmentally friendly option.
Using SIT as a basis, Argentina has taken the first steps toward
using the technique against codling moths. The FAO/IAEA Joint
Division supports research related to the mass production of sterile
moths, but more research is needed.

COMMENDABLE PROGRAM STILL HAS WORK TO DO
--------------

5. (U) COMMENT: The TC Latin America Division benefits from strong
management at the Director level and is often cited as an example of
an integrated TC program that addresses regional, versus national,
needs in an effort to maximize return on TC fund investment. The
use of SIT, a USG supported program, is very important for the
region and while some countries (Argentina, Chile, Guatemala, Mexico
and Peru) have embraced using the technique, others have not.
Brazil and Costa Rica should be encouraged to do more to implement
SIT. ARCAL Members should also capitalize on the Joint FAO/IAEA
Division's support of research in compatibility studies of using SIT
on the coddling moth to stem trans-border migration. END COMMENT.

DAVIES