PROPOSED FOOD SECURITY AND BIOTECH CONFERENCE IN JAKARTA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000062 SIPDIS STATE FOR EEB/TPP/MTAA/ABT SZYMANSKI AND BOBO STATE ALSO FOR EAP/MTS AND EEB/CBA USDA/FAS/OA MICHENER, BREWER USDA/FAS/OCRA HALE, HIGGISTON, RADLER USDA/FAS/OGA HOUSE, DWYER, ROCKE USDA/FAS/OSTA BLUM, MACKE, BERMAN, WETZEL USDA/FAS/OCBD SHEIKH, KREAMER, GROVES COMMERCE FOR 4430/NADJMI STATE PASS TO USTR WEISEL, EHLERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EAGR ETRD ID SUBJECT: PROPOSED FOOD SECURITY AND BIOTECH CONFERENCE IN JAKARTA REF: (A) 09 STATE 122732; (B) 09 JAKARTA 1997; (C) 09 JAKARTA 2031 (D) SZYMANSKI-SAEGER EMAIL 06 JANUARY 2010 ¶1. This is an action request. Please see paragraphs 2 and 11. ¶2. Embassy Jakarta proposes a food security conference in Jakarta in late March 2010 that would focus on the productivity and regulatory aspects of biotech crops. Post requests EEB ag-biotech funds offered in Ref (A) for this event. Food security is a key goal of the U.S.-Indonesian bilateral Comprehensive Partnership. A new Indonesian focus on food productivity has opened the door for regulatory change in favor of market access for biotech products and foreign agribusiness. Although U.S. and Indonesian definitions of food security differ - Indonesia stresses increased domestic food production - Indonesia's food security goals can be better achieved through the use of biotech crops. The conference would also offer increased opportunities for U.S. firms to promote their products to the Indonesian private sector and government officials. Structure of the Conference -------------- ¶3. The food security conference would run for 1 1/2 days and incorporate three themes: 1) investment in food production, including biotech crops and foreign agribusiness participation in domestic food production; 2) improvement and investment in post-harvest food distribution infrastructure; and 3) capacity building for agricultural and food production sciences. We note that the proposed time for the conference might coincide with a visit by EEB A/S Jose Fernandez to Indonesia. If so, we could ensure that A/S Fernandez would have a prominent role. Focus on Biotech Issues -------------- ¶4. Because of the renewed focus on food security, Indonesian officials are giving greater attention to technology and investment issues which have the potential to increase agricultural productivity. Officials are now considering biotech crops as a part of this process, and U.S. agribusinesses and crops technology could help advance these objectives. ¶5. The conference would also encourage investment by U.S. agribusinesses. Among the problems that the private sector could address are insufficient infrastructure to distribute fresh foods, including ports, roads, and cold storage chains; regulatory constraints; and investment restrictions. Advancing Policy Objectives -------------- ¶6. This conference will contribute to the development of implementing regulations for the 2005 Biotech law. Indonesia has a Presidential Decree issued in 1999 covering biotech issues, but a subsequent law passed in 2005 still has no implementing regulations. The lack of clarity on biosafety and food safety authorization for biotech crops and food has so far prevented the approval of any biotech production in Indonesia. A food security conference could focus key issues and highlight biotech benefits for regulatory officials as they develop their biotech regulations. ¶7. Policymakers, academics, and domestic industry will receive a greater understanding of the benefits of using biotech crops for productivity and output. Indonesian food productivity has not seen significant gains in decades. Biotech crops offer the capacity for Indonesian domestic food production to once again increase its productivity. ¶8. The conference will also contribute to a greater awareness of the benefits of U.S. agribusiness participation in the country. Indonesia has traditionally shunned foreign agricultural investment and preferred local agribusiness. New officials, including the Deputy Agriculture Minister, have called for greater foreign investment in food production in Indonesia to increase production. Target Audience -------------- ¶9. There is a wide range of potential officials that the conference will target, including: JAKARTA 00000062 002 OF 002 -- Agricultural officials dealing with the approval of new crops, especially biotech crops; -- Agricultural officials concerned with food production in the country, and local production in the areas that have the greatest amount of food insecurity; -- Officials involved in Indonesia's food security policies; -- Indonesian agribusinesses, who are the best potential allies for adopting biotech seeds for increased production and greater efficiency; -- Indonesian officials dealing with transportation and trade infrastructure -- Indonesian food processing industries -- Indonesian legislators -- Indonesian agricultural academics Follow-Up Activities -------------- ¶10. FAS-Jakarta will collaborate with local stakeholders as well as FAS-Washington in developing follow up activities to possibly include farmer-to-farmer programs and short-term training on plant breeding/biotechnology for university faculty and/or government decision-makers. A possible source of funding for this would be the USDA Emerging Market Program. Costs of the Program -------------- ¶11. Estimated cost for the conference is $29,475, which includes the following. Post requests EEB funds offered in Ref (A) for this event. Facilities/Equipment, 1 1/2 days: $ 7,280 U.S. speakers (3): $14,652 Regional speakers (2): $ 3,198 Translation: $ 500 Miscellaneous: $ 3,845 U.S. speakers: $4,884 (each) -- Airfare: $3,705 -- Per Diem: $ 699 -- Honorarium: $ 480/day Regional speakers: $1,599 (each) -- Philippines -- China/India -- Airfare: $700 -- Per Diem: $699 -- Honorarium: $200/day Contact Information -------------- ¶12. Responsible officers for this conference are as follows: Ted Saeger Economic Section U.S. Embassy Jakarta Tel: +62-21-3435-9066 saegeres@state.gov Jonn Slette Foreign Agricultural Service U.S. Embassy Jakarta Tel: +62-21-3435-9163 Jonn.Slette@fas.usda.gov