ETHIOPIA: BIOTECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP GENERATES DEBATE, GOE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000251 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT EEB/TPP/MTAA/ABT FOR MARCELLA SZYMANSKI AND JACK BOBO PASS TO USAID FOR SAHARAH MOON CHAPOTIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR TBIO ECON ETRD ET SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: BIOTECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP GENERATES DEBATE, GOE SENDS MIXED SIGNALS REF: 09 ADDIS ABABA 2065 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD) held a "National Workshop on Biotechnology" with support from the U.S. Mission from February 1-3, 2010 in Addis Ababa. The event was well-attended, and generated healthy debate on the 2009 biosafety law, including from GOE officials openly opposed to the legislation, and the future of agriculture development in Ethiopia. However, during opening and closing comments at the workshop, MoARD State Minister Abera Deressa sent mixed messages about his ministry's support for reviewing or amending the biosafety law. End summary. Biotech Workshop Well-Attended, Discussion Lively -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) MoARD held a "National Workshop on Biotechnology" with support from the U.S. Mission from February 1-3, 2010 in Addis Ababa. Approximately 80 people attended the workshop, with excellent participation from MoARD, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST),the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR),Addis Ababa University (AAU),and other research facilities. A number of high-ranking government officials attended the workshop opening, at which Minister of Science and Technology Junedin Sado, State Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Abera Deressa, and EIAR Director General Solomon Assefa spoke. USAID/Ethiopia worked closely with MoARD officials to craft the workshop agenda, provided financial support used to secure conference facilities, and USAID/Ethiopia Advisor Tessa Milofsky presented during the workshop. The U.S. Embassy funded the participation of international speakers through EEB's Biotechnology Outreach Program. ¶3. (SBU) Conference organizers were pleased with the level of audience participation surrounding Ethiopia's highly restrictive biosafety law (reftel),passed in 2009. Attendees appeared well-informed, and understood many of the limitations associated with the legislation. Throughout the workshop, attendees openly criticized the legislation and identified it as a barrier to progress in agriculture research and development in Ethiopia. Other topics of discussion included biotechnology legislation and regulations in various African countries, involvement of the academic community and private sector in developing a comprehensive biotechnology policy, and the need to educate senior-level policymakers on the benefits of biotechnology to increasing food security and agriculture development in Ethiopia. ¶4. (SBU) In a surprising departure from the reserve often shown in Ethiopian culture, several Ethiopian participants from AAU and EIAR candidly challenged the presenter from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA),which drafted the biosafety law and is viewed as the strongest institutional opponent of agriculture biotechnology in the government. EPA Director General Dr. Tewolde Berhan, who was scheduled to present on the legislation, did not attend the conference. The lone EPA participant, from the agency's legal division, left immediately after his presentation. MoARD Sends Mixed Signals on Biosafety Law -------------- ¶5. (SBU) During a 30-minute opening address on the first day of the workshop, State Minister Abera highlighted opportunities for agriculture research and development in Ethiopia, and expressed MoARD's concern that the recently-enacted biosafety legislation could stifle innovation and growth in the agriculture sector. In the weeks leading up to the workshop, Dr. Abera had been very proactive in promoting and organizing the event, and engaged with USAID officials and EconOff to seek input regarding guest speakers and the workshop's agenda. However, during closing remarks, Dr. Abera's tone changed completely. He defended the biosafety law, ignored issues identified by Ethiopian scientists from EIAR and AAU during the workshop, and told attendees they should not challenge the legislation until it had been tested (but did not address challenges participants have already faced as a result of the law). Foreign Speakers Share Experiences -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Three State Department-funded international speakers proved extremely helpful in educating policy-makers in the audience and initiating discussion among the Ethiopian subject matter experts. Dr. Magdy Madkour, Head of Biotechnology at the Arid Lands Agricultural Research Institute, Ain Shams University, Egypt, ADDIS ABAB 00000251 002 OF 002 discussed Egypt's experience utilizing biotechnology to boost agriculture production in drought-prone climates. Dr. Margaret Karembu, Director of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA) Africa Center, Nairobi, Kenya, provided an overview of biotechnology laws and policies in COMESA countries and a detailed presentation on Kenya's experience developing its own biosafety law. Dr. Jacob Mignouna, Director of Technical Operations at the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF),Nairobi, Kenya, framed the issue of biotechnology development vs. biosafety with humor and tact. All were well received by the audience. Comment -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Ethiopian government officials and agencies clearly hold divergent views on biotechnology, ranging from the EPA's firm opposition to biotechnology research and development, through MoARD's flip-flopping, to the EIAR's keen interest in harnessing modern science to address Ethiopia's chronic food insecurity. State Minister Abera offered no insight into his dramatic change of heart during the workshop. Post assesses he was influenced by politics, rather than science. The biotechnology workshop generated healthy debate on the 2009 biosafety law and the future of agriculture development in Ethiopia, but it increasingly appears that engaging officials at the most senior levels will be necessary to initiate a meaningful review of the law and its consequences. End comment. YATES