HUNGARY'S PROPOSAL FOR FY2010 AGRICULTURAL

UNCLAS BUDAPEST 000021

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EEB/TPP/MTAA/ABT JACK BOBO AND MARCELLA
SZYMANSKI; EUR/CE JMOORE; COMMERCE FOR SSAVICH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD TBIO KPAO OIIP HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARY'S PROPOSAL FOR FY2010 AGRICULTURAL
BIOTECHNOLOGY OUTREACH

REF: A. 09 STATE 122732

B. 09 BUDAPEST 761

C. 09 BUDAPEST 267

D. 09 BUDAPEST 210

E. 09 BUDAPEST 138


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Hungary has long resisted agricultural
biotechnology (refs B-E). This spring's parliamentary
elections will usher in a new government and an opportunity
to advocate for agbiotech with a fresh group of stakeholders.
While we do not expect that the new government's initial
approach to agbiotech will substantially change, we believe
that regular, early engagement on this issue may yield
progress in the longer term. We recommend outreach at both
the political level and at universities with strong
agricultural research programs and propose visits by the
Department of State's Senior Advisor for Biotechnology,
followed by an IIP-selected expert. END SUMMARY.


New leaders, new angle
--------------


2. (SBU) Parliamentary elections will occur in April and new
ministers should be in place by June. We recommend that
State's Senior Advisor for Biotechnology travel to Hungary in
late June to engage with the following Ministries:
Agriculture and Rural Development; Environment and Water
Management; and Development and Economy. We also recommend a
meeting with Parliament's Agricultural Committee.


3. (SBU) Previous outreach (ref D) has yielded little
success. However, we have noted greater receptivity for
arguments showing the tangible environmental benefits of
biotech varieties, e.g. those that improve drought
resistance, heat tolerance, or have biofuel potential.


Outreach at universities
--------------


4. (SBU) Hungary's resistance to agbiotech stands in contrast
to its rich history of scientific research and discovery. To
help promote the importance of agbiotech research, we
recommend bringing in one expert speaker (selected through
IIP) to deliver presentations at the Universities of
Debrecen, Szent Istvan, and West Hungary, perhaps focusing on
agbiotech's potential role in boosting biofuel production and
addressing other environmental concerns. We believe strong
science presented to Hungary's well-educated technical
experts can also bring results.


Budget Proposal
--------------


5. (U) The proposed budget is as follows:

MINISTERIAL MEETINGS - SENIOR ADVISOR TO BIOTECHNOLOGY - 4
NIGHTS

$3,000.00 ROUNDTRIP AIRFARE U.S. - HUNGARY
$1,170.00 PER DIEM AND LODGING
$ 300.00 LOCAL TRANSPORTATION

$4,470.00 SUBTOTAL MINISTERIAL MEETINGS

IIP SPEAKER AT UNIVERSITIES - 4 NIGHTS

$3,000.00 ROUNDTRIP AIRFARE U.S. - HUNGARY
$1,170.00 PER DIEM AND LODGING
$ 600.00 HONORARIUM FOR 1 U.S. SPEAKER FOR 3 DAYS
$ 300.00 LOCAL TRANSPORTATION

$5,070.00 SUBTOTAL IIP SPEAKER

$9,540.00 TOTAL AMOUNT REQUESTED FOR FY2010 AGBIOTECH
OUTREACH


6. (U) Post's point of contact is Economic Officer Aaron Feit
( 36-1-475-4240; IVG 990-4240; feital@state.gov)
KOUNALAKIS