This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 005973 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCIENCE ADVISOR NEUREITER 
EUR/ERA FOR HEN-NIL 
EB FOR CEKUTA AND SCHONANDER 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  05973  01 OF 03  131147Z 
EB/TPP/ABT FOR DEBBIE MALAC 
STATE PASS USTR FOR SLOAN, NOVELLI 
STATE PASS USDA FOR APHIS:SMCCAMMON, USDA/FAS:BLUM 
USDA/FAS/ITT:EJONES 
USDA/OS/HEGWOOD 
STATE PASS FDA FOR EFLAMM 
EPA FOR OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATOR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR SENV ETRD TBIO EAID SENV ETRD TBIO EAID SENV ETRD TBIO EAID IT ITEAGR ITEAGR
SUBJECT:  U.S. SCIENTISTS DESCRIBE BENEFITS OF AGRICULTURE 
BIOTECHNOLOGY TO FARMERS, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, AND CLERGY 
 
REFS: A) ROME 1965  B) ROME 3433  C) ROME 3965 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  MISSION ITALY ORGANIZED IN LATE OCTOBER 
PROGRAMS FOR THREE U.S. INVITED BIOTECH SCIENTISTS TO EXPAND 
THE SCOPE OF SCIENCE-BASED BIOTECH DEBATE IN ITALY, 
ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTH, AN AREA IN WHICH KNOWLEDGE OF U.S. 
BIOTECH IS RELATIVELY THIN.  THE ITALIAN SCIENTISTS FELT 
REINFORCED, SINCE VIRTUALLY ALL PARTICIPANTS - INCLUDING THE 
NAPLES PRESIDENT OF LEGAMBIENTE, ITALY'S LARGEST 
ENVIRONMENTAL NGO - AGREED THAT THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT 
SHOULD PUSH AHEAD WITH INCREASED RESEARCH IN THE BIOTECH 
FIELD.  DR. MASSIMO PACETTI, PRESIDENT OF ITALY'S THIRD 
LARGEST FARMERS' ASSOCIATION, CITED THE POTENTIAL OF 
BIOTECHNOLOGY TO INCREASE ITALY'S AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, 
INCREASE FARMERS' INCOMES, AND REDUCE HARM TO THE 
ENVIRONMENT.  CONSUMERS ASSOCIATIONS AND GREEN NGO'S 
PARTICIPATED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN AN EMBASSY EVENT ON 
BIOTECH, SHOWING THEY ARE NOW OPEN TO DEBATE.  THE PROGRAM 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  05973  01 OF 03  131147Z 
ADDRESSED THE KEY MISSION OBJECTIVE - OUTREACH OF FARMER 
ORGANIZATIONS FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY, ENABLING POST TO EXPAND ITS 
RANGE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY CONTACTS, AND USING A POSITIVE, NON- 
POLITICAL, SCIENCE-BASED APPROACH.  END SUMMARY. 
 
----------------- 
PROGRAM IN NAPLES 
----------------- 
 
¶2.  ON OCTOBER 22, CONSULATE NAPLES CO-SPONSORED WITH THE 
ITALIAN FARMERS' ASSOCIATION (CIA) A CONFERENCE IN NAPLES TO 
DISCUSS POTENTIAL AGRICULTURAL BIOTECH APPLICATIONS IN THE 
MEDITERRANEAN REGION.  APPROXIMATELY 100 ITALIANS FROM 
THROUGHOUT ITALY ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE, INCLUDING FARMERS, 
RESEARCHERS, UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS, ENVIRONMENTALISTS, 
BUSINESSMEN INVOLVED IN THE FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY, AND 
PRESS.  NAPLES CONSUL GENERAL BISHOP DELIVERED OPENING 
REMARKS AT THE SESSION, WHICH WAS CHAIRED BY NAPLES 
UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR OF AGRICULTURAL GENETICS DR. LUIGI 
MONTI. 
 
¶3.  THE PROGRAM, DEVELOPED IN CONCERT WITH PA ROME, FAS ROME 
AND THE ROME SCIENCE OFFICE, INCLUDED THREE U.S. SPEAKERS - 
TWO SPONSORED BY PUBLIC AFFAIRS, AND THE THIRD BY FAS ROME. 
DR. RAY BRESSAN (PROFESSOR OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AT PURDUE 
UNIVERSITY) PLACED THE BIOTECHNOLOGY DEBATE IN ITS 
HISTORICAL CONTEXT, EMPHASIZING BIOTECH AS A NATURAL 
CONTINUATION IN THE PROCESS OF AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION THAT 
HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MILLENNIA.  BRESSAN STRESSED THAT 
GIVEN THE EXPONENTIAL GROWTH OF THE HUMAN POPULATION OVER 
THE PAST 150 YEARS, TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION IS THE ONLY WAY 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  05973  01 OF 03  131147Z 
TO ENSURE A SUFFICIENT FOOD SUPPLY WITHOUT INCREASING STRESS 
ON AN OVERBURDENED ENVIRONMENT.  PROF. MAARTEN CHRISPEELS 
(PROFESSOR OF MOLECULAR AGRICULTURE, UNIVERSITY OF 
CALIFORNIA AT SAN DIEGO) FOCUSED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF 
GENOMICS AND ONGOING RESEARCH EFFORTS TO ENHANCE THE 
RESISTANCE OF PLANTS USED IN AGRICULTURE.  JANET CARPENTER, 
A RESEARCHER AT THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 
POLICY, SUMMARIZED A NUMBER OF RECENT STUDIES ON THE IMPACT 
OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS IN THE UNITED STATES.  THE 
EVIDENCE OF A DRAMATIC DECLINE IN PESTICIDE USE AND LOWER 
PRODUCTION COSTS FOR FARMERS, FOLLOWING THE INTRODUCTION OF 
BIOTECH CROPS, WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTING TO THE AUDIENCE. 
 
¶4.  ON THE ITALIAN SIDE, PROF. FABIO VERONESI FROM THE 
UNIVERSITY OF PERUGIA ARGUED THAT BIOTECHNOLOGY COULD PLAY A 
CRUCIAL ROLE IN "DEFENDING" THE AUTHENTICITY OF "TYPICAL" 
PRODUCTS FROM ITALY'S VARIOUS REGIONS.  GENETIC TESTING, 
ACCORDING TO VERONESI, MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO DETECT "FAKES" - 
IMPORTED PRODUCTS THAT ARE BEING PASSED OFF AS THE "REAL 
THING."  VERONESI'S ARGUMENT HAS GREAT RESONANCE IN ITALY, 
WHERE IT IS OFTEN ARGUED THAT BIOTECHNOLOGY THREATENS TO 
UNDERMINE THE HIGH-END NICHE MARKET FOR TYPICAL ITALIAN 
PRODUCTS.  DR. ALBINO MAGGIO, A BIOTECH RESEARCHER AT THE 
NATIONAL AGENCY FOR NEW TECHNOLOGIES, ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT 
(ENEA), DISCUSSED HIS RESEARCH IN GENETIC MANIPULATION THAT 
MAKES CROPS MORE RESISTANT TO HIGH-SALINITY ENVIRONMENTS. 
THE ISSUE IS ESPECIALLY RELEVANT IN SOUTHERN ITALY, WHERE 
SOIL SALINIZATION IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN KEY AGRICULTURAL 
REGIONS SUCH AS PUGLIA AND SICILY.  FORMER AGRICULTURE 
MINISTER PAOLO DE CASTRO MADE A STRONG ARGUMENT FOR 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 05        ROME  05973  01 OF 03  131147Z 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ3854 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  05973  02 OF 03  131147Z 
ACTION EUR-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   CEA-01   CIAE-00  COME-00  CTME-00 
      DINT-00  DODE-00  DOEE-00  ITCE-00  SRPP-00  EB-00    EXME-00 
      E-00     UTED-00  VC-00    FRB-00   HHS-01   H-01     TEDE-00 
      INR-00   IO-00    ITC-01   L-00     VCE-00   AC-01    NSAE-00 
      NSCE-00  NSF-01   OES-00   OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  PM-00 
      PRS-00   ACE-00   SP-00    SSO-00   STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00 
      USIE-00  EPAE-00  ECA-00   PMB-00   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00 
      SAS-00     /012W 
                  ------------------174B74  131224Z /38 
P 131142Z DEC 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7315 
USDA WASHDC 
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE 
AMCONSUL MILAN 
AMCONSUL NAPLES 
AMCONSUL FLORENCE 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 ROME 005973 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCIENCE ADVISOR NEUREITER 
EUR/ERA FOR HEN-NIL 
EB FOR CEKUTA AND SCHONANDER 
 
EB/TPP/ABT FOR DEBBIE MALAC 
STATE PASS USTR FOR SLOAN, NOVELLI 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  05973  02 OF 03  131147Z 
STATE PASS USDA FOR APHIS:SMCCAMMON, USDA/FAS:BLUM 
USDA/FAS/ITT:EJONES 
USDA/OS/HEGWOOD 
STATE PASS FDA FOR EFLAMM 
EPA FOR OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATOR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR SENV ETRD TBIO EAID SENV ETRD TBIO EAID SENV ETRD TBIO EAID IT ITEAGR ITEAGR
SUBJECT:  U.S. SCIENTISTS DESCRIBE BENEFITS OF AGRICULTURE 
BIOTECHNOLOGY TO FARMERS, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, AND CLERGY 
 
INCREASED BIOTECH RESEARCH, NOT ONLY IN ITALY BUT THROUGHOUT 
THE EUROPEAN UNION.  IN A THOROUGH OVERVIEW OF THE STATE OF 
BIOTECHNOLOGY IN THE EU, DE CASTRO CALLED FOR DRAMATIC 
BUDGET INCREASES FOR RESEARCH.  HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT 
RESEARCH IN BIOTECH NOW 
 WOULD IN NO WAY PRECLUDE FUTURE 
DECISIONS TO LIMIT THE MARKETING OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED 
FOODS IN EUROPE. 
¶5.  THE AUDIENCE WAS GENERALLY OPEN-MINDED ABOUT THE 
POTENTIAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN THE ITALIAN CONTEXT.  THE 
PROGRAM CONCLUDED WITH A LIVELY DISCUSSION, DURING WHICH 
VIRTUALLY ALL PARTICIPANTS - INCLUDING THE NAPLES PRESIDENT 
OF LEGAMBIENTE, ITALY'S LARGEST ENVIRONMENTAL NGO - AGREED 
THAT THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT SHOULD PUSH AHEAD WITH INCREASED 
RESEARCH IN THE BIOTECH FIELD.  DR. MASSIMO PACETTI, 
NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE FARMERS' ASSOCIATION, CLOSED THE 
MEETING BY CITING THE POTENTIAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY TO INCREASE 
ITALY'S AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, INCREASE FARMERS' INCOMES, 
AND REDUCE HARM TO THE ENVIRONMENT. 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  05973  02 OF 03  131147Z 
¶6.  THE PROGRAM WAS COVERED EXTENSIVELY BY LOCAL/REGIONAL 
MEDIA INCLUDING "RAI 3," "TELECAPRI," "NATIONAL NETWORK 5 
STELLE," "CANALE 21," "IL MATTINO," "ANSA," "IL DENARO," "IL 
GIORNALE DI NAPOLI,"AND RADIO CLUB '91."  THE LEADING 
NATIONAL ECONOMIC DAILY "IL SOLE 24 ORE," "LA STAMPA," AND 
THE NATIONAL NETWORK "RAI 1" ALSO PROVIDED STRAIGHT FORWARD 
COVERAGE. 
 
¶7.  THE NAPLES PROGRAM MOVED OUR AGENDA FORWARD BY EXPANDING 
THE SCOPE OF SCIENCE-BASED BIOTECH DEBATE IN SOUTHERN ITALY, 
AN AREA IN WHICH KNOWLEDGE OF U.S. BIOTECH RESEARCH AND 
FIELD RESULTS ARE RELATIVELY THIN. CONSULATE NAPLES EXPANDED 
ITS RANGE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY CONTACTS IN THE SOUTH, THUS 
LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR FURTHER "AUDIENCE-BUILDING" IN 
FUTURE PROGRAMS. 
 
--------------- 
PROGRAM IN ROME 
--------------- 
 
¶8.  BEFORE GOING TO NAPLES, BRESSAN AND CHRISPEELS MET WITH 
FAO OFFICIALS, PROF. JOSE ESQUINAS-ALCAZAR, SECRETARY OF THE 
COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, 
AND ANDREA SONNINO, SENIOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH OFFICER. 
CHRISPEELS MADE A PRESENTATION ABOUT HIS NEW BOOK "PLANTS, 
GENES AND CROP BIOTECHNOLOGY" AND ASKED FOR FAO HELP ON 
DISTRIBUTING IT TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES UNIVERSITY TEACHERS. 
 
¶9.  ON OCT. 23 EMBASSY ROME ORGANIZED AN OPEN DISCUSSION 
MEETING WITH THE MOST IMPORTANT ITALIAN CONSUMERS 
ASSOCIATIONS, TRADE UNION REPRESENTATIVES, AND ENVIRONMENTAL 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  05973  02 OF 03  131147Z 
NGO'S (GREENPEACE AND WWF).  THE THREE SCIENTISTS MADE SHORT 
PRESENTATIONS AND A LONG Q AND A SESSION FOLLOWED. IN ROME 
THE SPEAKERS MANAGED TO CORRECT FALSE IMPRESSIONS ABOUT 
BIOTECHNOLOGY HELD BY MANY CONSUMERS IN ITALY. ONE SIMPLE 
BUT IMPORTANT POINT THEY MADE WAS THAT BIOTECH PRODUCTS ARE 
CONTROLLED BY PUBLIC AUTHORITIES IN THE U.S. (I.E. THE FDA) 
AND THOROUGHLY TESTED BEFORE BEING APPROVED FOR THE MARKET. 
THIS CAME AS A SURPRISE TO SOME PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, WHO 
WERE CONVINCED THAT DECISIONS ABOUT COMMERCIALIZATION WERE 
BASED SOLELY ON RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY THE PRODUCERS 
THEMSELVES.  POST BELIEVES THAT THE EVENT WAS A SUCCESS:  IT 
WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT POST ORGANIZED AN EVENT INVITING 
STRONG ANTI-GMO REPRESENTATIVES AND ALL THE INVITED PEOPLE 
CAME (A VERY RARE EVENT).  MOREOVER, EVEN IF SCIENTISTS AND 
AUDIENCE DID NOT CHANGE THEIR POSITIONS, THE DEBATE WAS 
LIVELY AND FRANK AND LASTED FOR TWO HOURS LONGER THAN 
PROGRAMMED. 
 
¶10.  WHILE IN ROME, EMBASSY VATICAN CHARGE ORGANIZED A 
LUNCHEON FOR THE THREE EXPERTS, WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
VATICAN FOREIGN MINISTRY, THE PONTIFICAL ACADEMIES AND THE 
SANT'EGIDIO COMMUNITY - A VATICAN-RELATED NGO THAT WORKS IN 
CONFLICT PREVENTION AND DEVELOPMENT, PRIMARILY IN AFRICA. 
CHRISPEEL'S PRESENTATION OF BIOTECH FOOD SAFETY AND THE 
APPROPRIATENESS OF USING BIOTECH AS A KEY TOOL IN DEVELOPING 
COUNTRY FOOD SECURITY HELPED REINFORCE THE INCLINATIONS OF 
THE BIO-ETHICISTS FROM THE PONTIFICAL ACADEMIES.  THIS 
COMMON PERSPECTIVE ALLOWED EMBASSY VATICAN  TO PRESSURE THE 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ3855 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  05973  03 OF 03  131147Z 
ACTION EUR-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   CEA-01   CIAE-00  COME-00  CTME-00 
      DINT-00  DODE-00  DOEE-00  ITCE-00  SRPP-00  EB-00    EXME-00 
      E-00     UTED-00  VC-00    FRB-00   HHS-01   H-01     TEDE-00 
      INR-00   IO-00    ITC-01   L-00     VCE-00   AC-01    DCP-01 
      NSAE-00  NSCE-00  NSF-01   OES-00   OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01 
      PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   SP-00    SSO-00   STR-00   TEST-00 
      TRSE-00  USIE-00  EPAE-00  PMB-00   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00 
      SAS-00     /013W 
                  ------------------174B85  131225Z /38 
P 131142Z DEC 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7316 
USDA WASHDC 
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE 
AMCONSUL MILAN 
AMCONSUL NAPLES 
AMCONSUL FLORENCE 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 ROME 005973 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCIENCE ADVISOR NEUREITER 
EUR/ERA FOR HEN-NIL 
EB FOR CEKUTA AND SCHONANDER 
 
EB/TPP/ABT FOR DEBBIE MALAC 
STATE PASS USTR FOR SLOAN, NOVELLI 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  05973  03 OF 03  131147Z 
STATE PASS USDA FOR APHIS:SMCCAMMON, USDA/FAS:BLUM 
USDA/FAS/ITT:EJONES 
USDA/OS/HEGWOOD 
STATE PASS FDA FOR EFLAMM 
EPA FOR OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATOR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR SENV ETRD TBIO EAID SENV ETRD TBIO EAID SENV ETRD TBIO EAID IT ITEAGR ITEAGR
SUBJECT:  U.S. SCIENTISTS DESCRIBE BENEFITS OF AGRICULTURE 
BIOTECHNOLOGY TO FARMERS, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, AND CLERGY 
 
HOLY SEE'S FOREIGN MINISTRY REPRESENTATIVE TO ADOPT A MORE 
PROACTIVE SUPPORT OF THE BIOTECH FOODS FOR THE BENEFIT OF 
PEOPLE ON THE DEVELOPING WORLD.  THE LUNCH EXCHANGE ALSO 
ENGAGED THE SANT'EGIDIO COMMUNITY AS A PARTNER ON BIOTECH 
FOODS. IT IS NOW FULLY CO 
MMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE USG AND 
THE HOLY SEE ON HOW BEST TO USE THE TECHNOLOGY TO HELP 
PEOPLE, AND IS HOSTING A BRIEFING TO THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS 
THE EMBASSY IS ARRANGING DECEMBER 18. 
 
---------------- 
PROGRAM IN MILAN 
---------------- 
 
¶11.  PROF. CRISPEELS ENDED HIS TRIP IN MILAN:  HE WAS 
INTERVIEWED BY "IL SOLE 24 ORE RADIO" AND THE FINANCIAL 
DAILY "IL SOLE 24 ORE", AT U.S. CONSULATE IN MILAN. SCIENCE 
MAGAZINE "LE SCIENZE" WILL SOON PUBLISH A REVIEW OF HIS 
BOOK.  PROFESSOR MIRELLA SARI GORLA, PRESIDENT OF THE 
ITALIAN SOCIETY OF AGRICULTURAL GENETICS, HOSTED A WORKING 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  05973  03 OF 03  131147Z 
LUNCH. PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED PROFESSOR CHIARA TONELLI, DR. 
ALLESSANDRO VITALE OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL, AND DR. 
LEONARDO VINGIANI, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF ASSOBIOTECH (TRADE 
ASSOCIATION OF BIOTECH COMPANIES).  A CRISPEELS' LECTURE AND 
Q AND A WITH OVER 100 PROFESSORS AND STUDENTS AT THE 
UNIVERSITA STATALE FOLLOWED THE LUNCH. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
BIOTECH CAN REACH ITALY- BUT WE NEED TO KEEP SENDING THE 
MESSAGE 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
¶12.  PROF. CHRISPEELS AND BRESSAN RAISED SEVERAL POINTS 
WHICH POST WILL EMPHASIZE IN FUTURE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GOI 
AND ANTI-GMO'S STAKEHOLDERS. 
 
- IF ITALY BECOMES A GMO-FREE ISLAND IT WILL LACK TRAINED 
PERSONNEL AND EXPERTISE TO DEAL WITH EMERGING PLANT DISEASES 
AND INSECT PESTS THAT AFFECT ITS PRINCIPAL DOMESTIC AND 
EXPORT FOOD CROPS. 
 
- BIOTECH RESEARCH COULD SAVE ENDANGERED ITALIAN TYPICAL 
FOOD CROPS. 
 
- BIOTECH WILL REDUCE USE OF PESTICIDES. 
 
- BIOTECH FOODS UNDERGO FAR MORE RIGOROUS SAFETY TESTS THAN 
THOSE USED FOR NON-BIOTECH AND "BIOLOGICAL" FOODS. 
 
- WHILE BIOTECH FOODS ARE CREATED BY INSERTING A SINGLE GENE 
INTO A PLANT, TRADITIONAL BREEDING MIXES GENETIC MATERIAL IN 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  05973  03 OF 03  131147Z 
A COMPARATIVELY UNCONTROLLED WAY WITH LESS PREDICTABLE 
RESULTS. 
 
- NEW GENERATION BIOTECH PRODUCTS WILL INCLUDE HEALTHIER AND 
NUTRITIONALLY SUPERIOR FOOD (HYPOALLERGENIC, WITH ENHANCED 
OMEGA FATTY ACIDS, OR MEDIUM LENGTH CHAINS, WITH VITAMIN A). 
 
- THE USE OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED PLANTS TO PRODUCE 
PHARMACEUTICALS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO REDUCE THE COST OF SOME 
DRUGS BY 90 PCT PLACING ADVANCED DRUG THERAPIES WITHIN REACH 
OF POOR COUNTRIES AND INDIVIDUALS. 
 
- BIOTECH COULD MITIGATE THE LARGE, OFTEN NEGATIVE, IMPACT 
ON THE ENVIRONMENT OF AGRICULTURE:  LARGER PER HECTARE 
YIELDS CAN LEAVE MORE LAND IN FOREST, REDUCE PESTICIDE 
DEPENDENCE, AND DROUGHT RESISTANT VARIETIES CAN REDUCE 
PRESSURE ON SCARCE WATER SUPPLIES EVEN IN ITALY. 
 
- INCREASED WORLD FOOD DEMAND NEEDS AN INCREASED FOOD 
PRODUCTION. BIOTECH OFFERS ONE OF THE MOST PROMISING WAYS TO 
INCREASE FOOD PRODUCTION WITHIN PRESENT RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS 
(LIMITED WATER AND ARABLE LAND). 
 
- AS PEOPLE GET RICHER THEY TEND TO MOVE FROM A GRAIN-BASED 
DIET TO A DIET RICHER IN ANIMAL PRODUCTS SUCH AS MEAT. 
BIOTECHNOLOGY COULD PROVIDE THE NECESSARY QUANTITY OF HIGH 
QUALITY FEEDS REQUIRED. 
 
SEMBLER 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 05        ROME  05973  03 OF 03  131147Z 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
> 
 2002ROME05973 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED