U.S. Support for Biotechnology Development in Thailand;

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 000111

Department for EAP/MLS DSmith; EEB/JBobo, MSzymanski; IIP/SEG
GWeintraub

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD TBIO BEXP SENV KPAO TH
SUBJECT: U.S. Support for Biotechnology Development in Thailand;
Still a Tough Row To Hoe

REF: A) 09 STATE 122732 (Call For FY 2010 Funding Requests); B) 09
BANGKOK 141 (FY 2009 Bangkok Proposal); C) 09 BANGKOK 2551
(Ambassador Meets with Agriculture Minister)

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1. Summary and Comment: Agricultural biotechnology is widely
accepted by the Thai scientific community, including Thai officials,
but NGO and consumer groups continue to oppose biotech crops and
foods (also known as genetically modified organisms or GMOs). Given
Thailand's importance as the world's number one rice exporter, the
USG conducted several capacity building and outreach activities in
2009 to increase awareness and understanding of this technology.
Jack Bobo, Senior State Advisor for Biotechnology, met with industry
leaders, academicians, and government officials in conferences and
private meetings. The USG also funded a Conference on Modern
Biotechnology and Risk Communication to teach the skills to
communicate with the public to decrease the fear and mistrust of
biotechnology.


2. While outreach so far has been helpful, Post expects that
continued efforts will be needed and climate change concerns could
provide a useful way to engage on the issue. Suggested outreach
includes engagement with feed and export associations, an event on
climate change and the role of agriculture, and meetings with
private and public stakeholders to facilitate the development of a
biotechnology risk communication strategy. In addition, we should
pursue knowledge building events on topics such as GLOBAL GAP,
biotechnology with organic agriculture, how to commercialize biotech
crops, and regulatory frameworks of biotech crops at international
and national levels. Post intends to request funding (in response
to Ref A) to continue outreach in 2010 with an event, to be done in
collaboration with FAS and USAID food security program office, that
will connect biotechnology with Climate Change and Food Security for
the Lower Mekong Initiative countries. FAS also has proposed events
to build upon the Conference on Modern Biotechnology and Risk
Communication held in 2009.


3. Thailand is an important country for USG biotech policy not only
because of the positive role biotechnology can play in enhancing
food security in the region, but because Thailand is generally
supportive of U.S. positions in international fora such as the
Biosafety Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity and in
various committees of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, an
international food safety standard setting body. If Thailand
becomes a producer of biotech crops it will be able to play a
stronger role in promoting the technology in international meetings.
End Summary and Comment.

Background
--------------


4. Thailand has a thriving research program in agricultural
biotechnology, but there is also a vocal opposition to genetically
modified organisms. In 2004, the RTG, under pressure from NGOs,
banned agricultural biotech field trials in the country. The Thai
Cabinet revoked its ban on biotech field trials in December 2007,
but there have been no approved field trials of agricultural biotech
crops. Because of vocal opposition, politicians have been hesitant
to push for the use of biotechnology, and stakeholders in the
government and private sector report that requirements are
restrictive and vague. In addition, the requisite public hearings
prior to field trials give anti-biotech NGOs a strong platform.


5. As the world's number one rice exporter and one of the region's
top agricultural exporters, Thailand is a key nation for the
region's food security and projected increases in the severity of
droughts and floods are a major risk. Advances in agricultural
technology, including biotechnology, are one possible answer to such
threats to food production, but the public needs to accept the
technology before it can be fully utilized. For example, insect
pests and viral diseases have devastated much of the country's
traditional production of papaya and cotton. Thailand's area
planted in cotton went from over 150,000 hectares to recently less
than 11,200 hectares. A 2007 report done by the Biotechnology
Alliance Association (BAA),a Thai biotechnology advocacy group,
estimated that Thailand loses US $3-7 million per year from not
allowing genetically modified papaya (based on GM papaya's average
yields of 74 tons/hectares against the current 18 tons/hectare
derived from non-GM papaya varieties). Biotech cotton would have a
similar beneficial economic impact on cotton production in the
country.

Outreach by the Senior Advisor for Biotechnology
-------------- ---


6. Jack Bobo, Senior State Department Advisor for Biotechnology,
visited Thailand from September 24 to October 4. He participated in
the "International Conference on Knowledge Management in
Agricultural Biotechnology: the Asian Experience," where he

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presented his paper "Addressing Global Challenges: the Role of
Agricultural Biotechnology and Implications for Knowledge
Management"; moderated an APEC steering committee meeting for the
High Level Policy Dialogue on AgBiotech; participated in a
roundtable discussion on the topic of biotechnology and its role in
food security and global warming; and had meetings with industry
leaders, academicians, and government officials involved in the
biotech sector in Thailand. Accompanied by FAS officers, Mr. Bobo
met with representatives from Pioneer, Monsanto, C.P. Group,
Kasetsart University, the National Center for Genetic Engineering
and Biotechnology, and the Thai Food and Drug Administration.
Suggestions for future outreach received by Mr. Bobo during these
meetings included events on climate change and the role of
agriculture, meetings with private and public stakeholders to
facilitate the development of appropriate communication strategies,
and engagement with Thailand's feed and export associations.

Modern Biotechnology and Risk Communication Conference
-------------- --------------


7. The Conference "Modern Biotechnology and Risk Communication" was
held on October 5 and 6 in Bangkok. It was organized by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA),the Department of State (using
DOS/EEB outreach funds),Asia BioBusiness, Thailand's National
Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC),and the
Food Science and Technology Association of Thailand (FOSTAT).
Ambassador Eric John and Darunee Edwards, President of FOSTAT,
opened the conference. They emphasized the important role of
agriculture biotechnology in enhancing agriculture production and
food security. DOS/ECA speaker program participant Dr. James
Maryanski then discussed standards for food safety assessment and
basic principles of communicating with the public. Dr. Andrew
Powell of Asia BioBusiness and Dr. Marichel Navarro of the
International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech
Applications (ISAAA) gave presentations as well.


8. Following the speakers, a risk communication workshop presented
basic elements of risk communication and how these elements could be
applied to communicate with the public about biotech foods. The
workshop included interactive exercises for participants to develop
an understanding of and apply principles of risk communication in
different circumstances. Attendees provided very positive feedback
and suggested topics for future events - to include GLOBAL GAP,
biotechnology with organic agriculture, how to commercialize GM
crops, and regulatory frameworks of biotech crops at international
and national levels. Media coverage of the event was
straightforward and without negative commentary.

JOHN