VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #7171/01 2771532
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041532Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9272
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 7776
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 9375
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 5455
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA 0681
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 6055

UNCLAS BOGOTA 007171 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EEB/ESC:MMCMANUS; IIP/S; WHA/EPSC:FCORNEILLE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG ECON KPAO OIIP SENV CO
SUBJECT: CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER HIGHLIGHTS 
COLOMBIA'S POTENTIAL FOR SUSTAINABLE BIOFUELS DEVELOPMENT 
 
REF: BOGOTA 5657 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: With funding from the Bureau of Economic, Energy 
and Business Affairs (EEB), Embassy Bogota hosted the visit 
of Conservation International Senior Research Scientist 
Timothy J. Killeen to Colombia September 26-28 to speak about 
the sustainable development of biofuels.  As part of the 
three-day visit, Dr. Killeen met with environmental 
activists, biofuels producers, and government officials as 
well as visited an ethanol production facility in Cali and an 
 
African palm farm and biodiesel plant under development in 
Meta Department.  Dr. Killeen capped the visit with a public 
presentation to approximately 150 students, faculty, local 
media and business leaders at the Universidad Autonoma de 
Occidente in Cali.  Throughout his visit, Dr. Killeen 
expressed optimism about Colombia' potential to sustainably 
develop its biofuels sector without harming the environment. 
He urged the public and private sectors to work closely on 
preparing a comprehensive land management strategy for 
biofuels as well as pursuing international certifications for 
biofuels produced in Colombia.  Dr. Killeen's remarks were 
carried in both the national daily El Tiempo and the leading 
financial newspaper Portafolio. END SUMMARY. 
 
Meetings with Environmental, Producer and Government Officials 
--------------------------------------------- ----------------- 
 
2, On September 26, Dr. Killeen attended three separate 
roundtables with environmental, producer and GOC officials, 
respectively, to discuss the potential for sustainable 
development of biofuels in Colombia.  Representatives from 
the Nature Conservancy, the Humboldt Center, the World 
Wildlife Fund, and the local office of Conservation 
International outlined their efforts to coordinate with 
African palm and sugar producers on establishing 
environmental principles for biodiesel and ethanol 
production.  Although some environmental representatives 
expressed concern that displacement of cattle grazing or 
other agricultural crops to environmentally sensitive areas 
might occur as production of feedstocks for biofuels 
increased, they acknowledged the GOC's strong public 
commitment to limit biofuels production to areas already in 
agricultural use or on degraded lands.  Dr. Killeen 
encouraged the environmental community to seek out areas of 
cooperation with biofuels producers on land management and 
shared principles rather than focus efforts on seeking 
legislative prescriptions that would be difficult to enforce 
and could hamper the positive impact of biofuels to generate 
rural employment and reduce carbon emissions. 
 
3, In discussions with the Federation of Palm Producers 
(FEDEPALMA) and the Association of Sugar Producers (ASOCANA), 
Dr. Killeen stressed the positive benefits of seeking 
international certifications of compliance with 
environmental, labor, and quality standards.  He noted that 
if negative biofuels production practices, or even a 
perception of such practices, took root they could doom the 
industry to endless struggles with the environmental 
community.  He therefore strongly encouraged producers to 
continue efforts to develop agreed production practices with 
the environmental community that addressed budding concerns 
about preventing deforestation, protecting biodiversity and 
promoting sound land management.  In his follow-on meeting 
with the Vice Minister of Environment Claudia Martinez, 
National Biofuels Coordinator Arturo Infante and technical 
representatives of the Ministries of Energy, Agriculture and 
Planning, Dr. Killeen urged the GOC to incorporate input from 
the environmental community and private sector as it develops 
a national biofuels strategy. 
 
Presentation 
------------ 
 
¶4. On September 27, Dr. Killeen underscored the same themes 
in his address to approximately 150 students, faculty, 
ethanol producers, and members of the local media at the 
Universidad Autonoma de Occidente (Autonomous University of 
the West) in Cali.  Following the speech, audience members 
asked questions about the alleged threat biofuels production 
posed to food supplies, the potential for biofuels to cause 
deforestation, and the prospects for second-generation 
cellulosic biofuels.  Dr. Killeen reiterated that existing 
scientific data refutes the premise that biofuels threatens 
the world's food supply, though demand for certain feedstocks 
could lead to higher consumer prices for particular foods. 
He also said that sound land management policy, developed 
 
through consultation with civil society and the environmental 
community, could mitigate dangers of deforestation.  Finally, 
he described cellulosic biofuels as a quickly approaching 
reality which will unlock the full potential of biofuels to 
serve as major source of energy.  He urged Colombian biofuels 
producers to begin preparing for cellulosic biofuels 
production. His commentary on biofuels was carried in October 
2 editions of both El Tiempo and Portafolio. 
 
Site Visits 
----------- 
 
¶5. In addition to the public diplomacy program, Post 
organized site visits for Dr. Killeen to a sugar-based 
ethanol plant outside of Cali and an African palm-based plant 
under development in San Juan de Guaroa in Meta Department. 
Dr. Killeen toured both facilities and the surrounding 
agricultural cultivation areas as part of his assessment of 
the potential for Colombia's biofuels sector to develop in a 
sustainable and environmentally responsible manner. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶6. Dr. Killeen's assessment that the GOC can develop an 
economically viable biofuels sector while holding to its 
commitment to confine production to degraded lands or areas 
already in agricultural production is important in 
ascertaining Colombia's long-term potential to sustainably 
generate rural employment, reduce carbon emissions, and 
diversify its energy supply through biofuels.  His messages 
on pursuing international certifications, promoting 
public-private cooperation, and preparing the Colombian 
biofuels industry for second-generation cellulosic biofuels 
also resonated with audiences.  Finally, his presentations 
aided in disabusing misperceptions about biofuels, including 
concerns about food security and land management. 
Brownfield