Panama Request for FY 2010 Biotechnology Outreach Support

UNCLAS PANAMA 000050 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EAGR FAS PM SUBJECT: Panama Request for FY 2010 Biotechnology Outreach Support ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Agricultural producers, the Ministry of Agricultural Development of Panama, and the Agricultural Research Institute of Panama are interested in developing programs to research and produce genetically modified crops, such as: rice, maize, sorghum, and sugar cane. The goals would be to address the challenges of food insecurity and mitigate climate change. However, Panama doesn't have biotech legislation to develop those initiatives. The Government of Panama has a Draft Law pending for it discussion on the Executive and Legislative Branches. Therefore, our continued involvement in the promotion of biotechnology, through seminars and workshops, could assist the GOP to adopt fair, transparent, and science-based policies and practices in Panama. End of Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Panama is a Party to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and has been in the last five years an active player in the Cartagena negotiations, especially in the negotiations on Article 27 relating to damage caused by a Living Modified Organism. However, Law 72 of 2001 implementing the Cartagena Protocol domestically has not been fully implemented. Also, Panama has not established its National Regulatory Framework on Biosafety for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). The National Environmental Authority is considering drafting a law to address these shortcomings. At present, Panama does not produce genetically modified products, nor has it conducted any official laboratory or field testing of agricultural biotechnology events, because there is no physical infrastructure for research or experimental trials in greenhouses, or confined plots. However, there are other agro-biotechnologies applied, such as plant tissue culture, molecular biology, in vitro conservation and cryopreservation. ¶3. (SBU) Education and outreach present themselves as the best means to promote accurate information about GMO's in a market that clearly understands the benefits of trade and friendly relations with the U.S. On July 22 - 24, 2009 the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Panama and FAS/Panama brought a Biotechnology speaker to Panama, to make a series of presentations to both government officials and food and seed importers. As a result of these presentations, the rice and corn producers and some GOP officials publicly expressed their interest in starting to do research and production of GMO crops in Panama. ; ¶4. (SBU) We therefore propose building on last year's successful event by holding a two-day workshop on biotechnology policies and regulations. The objective would be to raise awareness to the GoP for the elaboration of Biotech policies and regulations on GMOs. We request one speaker: Dr. Wayne Parrot from the University of Georgia. Dr. Parrot speaks a fluent Spanish and has previously helped FAS Honduras with politicians and GOH Senators for their elaboration of biotechnology policies and regulations on GMOs. The specific agriculture-biotech issues to be addressed would be elaboration of fair, transparent, and science-based biotechnology policies and regulations on GMOs. The Workshop would help meet USG policy by encouraging the GOP to abide by global trading rules and accept science-based evaluation of food production methods, as per Panama's obligations under international agreements, such as Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and Codex Alimentarius. Post would go through the IIP Speaker Program, if is feasible. William Muntean, Economic Officer, and Arlene Villalaz, Agricultural Specialist of FAS Panama, would be the post points of contact. Estimated Budget for the Workshop: Transportation U.S. - Panama - U.S for Speaker........U.S.$1,000.00 Lodging for 3 days for the Speaker.................................600.0 0 Meals and Incidentals for 3 days for Speaker.....................300.00 Honorarium of $200 per day for the Speaker.....................600.00 Two (2) Coffee Break for 50 participants at Workshop......1,000.00 Lunch for 50 participants at Workshop.........................1,500.00 Total Cost of the proposed Workshop................... U.S.$5,000.00 Target audience: GoP officials, Academia and Private Sector (50 participants in total): i. National Legislation Assembly ii. Ministry of Agricultural Development iii. Ministry of Health iv. Ministry of Commerce and Industry v. Ministry of Foreign Relations vi. National Authority for the Environment vii. Panamanian Food Safety Authority viii. Authority of the Aquatic Resources of Panama ix. Authority of Free Competition and Consumer Rights x. National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation. xi. Institute of Scientific Research and High Technology Services (INDICASAT AIP.) xii. Agricultural Research Institute of Panama xiii. Technological University of Panama xiv. University of Panama xv. Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies xvi. Association of Rice Producers (APACH) xvii. Association of Corn Producers of Panama xviii. Association of Distributors of Inputs for Agriculture. i. Contact Information: William Muntean Economic Officer U.S. Embassy in Panama Phone: 507-207-7263 Email: MunteanWG@state.gov Arlene Villalaz Agricultural Specialist USDA / Foreign Agricultural Service U.S. Embassy in Panama Phone: 507-207-7297 Email: VillalazAC@state.gov STEPHENSON