Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09VIENNA735
2009-06-19 06:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:
Food Security: Austria Supportive But Unable To Increase
how-toVZCZCXYZ0015 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHVI #0735 1700643 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 190643Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2756 INFO RUEHRC/USDA WASHDC
UNCLAS VIENNA 000735
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EBB/TPP/MTAA/ABT (JSPECK, GCLEMENTS and DMORTON)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID ECON PREL AU
SUBJECT: Food Security: Austria Supportive But Unable To Increase
Funding For Agricultural Development
REF: (A) STATE 58996; (B) 08 VIENNA 1795
UNCLAS VIENNA 000735
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EBB/TPP/MTAA/ABT (JSPECK, GCLEMENTS and DMORTON)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID ECON PREL AU
SUBJECT: Food Security: Austria Supportive But Unable To Increase
Funding For Agricultural Development
REF: (A) STATE 58996; (B) 08 VIENNA 1795
1. (SBU) EMBASSY reps shared ref A points with relevant stakeholders
in Austria's MFA (Ministry of European and International Affairs)
and Ministry of Agriculture / Environment. We followed up with
Manfred Schnitzer from of MFA Development Assistance/Program
Planning Department, who expressed strong support for USG efforts to
secure global food supply. Austria is unlikely to increase "short
term" expenditures for agricultural development substantially, he
said. Nevertheless, the U.S. example of "multilateral cooperation
on a partnership basis" serves as encouragement for Austria and
others to step up engagement on this issue.
2. (SBU) Schnitzer shared Austrian ideas on agricultural development
as part of development assistance. The GoA sees agriculture in the
context of poverty reduction, giving priority to funding for
marginalized and endangered populations, mostly small farmers.
Moreover, Austria sees promoting organic agriculture as the best way
to contribute to social and ecological sustainability in developing
countries. Another key issue for Austria is defining "land rights"
and "land utilization" in terms of natural resources in the Third
World.
3. (SBU) Schnitzer welcomed our "Five Principles for Global Action
on Food Security". He found only one "sensitive" issue in the
"seven key areas of investment": the provision of seeds and
fertilizers (NOTE: the GoA is a vocal opponent of agricultural
biotechnology - END NOTE). Austria opines that local "farming
systems" -- and not multinational enterprises -- should be
strengthened to ensure food security and "sovereignty" in developing
countries.
4. (SBU) EMBASSY FAS reps met with Elfriede More, head of
international agricultural affairs in the office of the Agriculture
Minister, who painted a more pessimistic picture on funding. Given
the tight budget situation, she would be happy just to sustain
Austria's current level of spending for agricultural projects in
coming years, she said.
ORDWAY
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EBB/TPP/MTAA/ABT (JSPECK, GCLEMENTS and DMORTON)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID ECON PREL AU
SUBJECT: Food Security: Austria Supportive But Unable To Increase
Funding For Agricultural Development
REF: (A) STATE 58996; (B) 08 VIENNA 1795
1. (SBU) EMBASSY reps shared ref A points with relevant stakeholders
in Austria's MFA (Ministry of European and International Affairs)
and Ministry of Agriculture / Environment. We followed up with
Manfred Schnitzer from of MFA Development Assistance/Program
Planning Department, who expressed strong support for USG efforts to
secure global food supply. Austria is unlikely to increase "short
term" expenditures for agricultural development substantially, he
said. Nevertheless, the U.S. example of "multilateral cooperation
on a partnership basis" serves as encouragement for Austria and
others to step up engagement on this issue.
2. (SBU) Schnitzer shared Austrian ideas on agricultural development
as part of development assistance. The GoA sees agriculture in the
context of poverty reduction, giving priority to funding for
marginalized and endangered populations, mostly small farmers.
Moreover, Austria sees promoting organic agriculture as the best way
to contribute to social and ecological sustainability in developing
countries. Another key issue for Austria is defining "land rights"
and "land utilization" in terms of natural resources in the Third
World.
3. (SBU) Schnitzer welcomed our "Five Principles for Global Action
on Food Security". He found only one "sensitive" issue in the
"seven key areas of investment": the provision of seeds and
fertilizers (NOTE: the GoA is a vocal opponent of agricultural
biotechnology - END NOTE). Austria opines that local "farming
systems" -- and not multinational enterprises -- should be
strengthened to ensure food security and "sovereignty" in developing
countries.
4. (SBU) EMBASSY FAS reps met with Elfriede More, head of
international agricultural affairs in the office of the Agriculture
Minister, who painted a more pessimistic picture on funding. Given
the tight budget situation, she would be happy just to sustain
Austria's current level of spending for agricultural projects in
coming years, she said.
ORDWAY