VZCZCXYZ0008
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #0036/01 0031754
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031754Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0765

UNCLAS BOGOTA 000036 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EEB/TPP/ABT/BTT: JOHN FINN AND GARY CLEMENTS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD TBIO KPAO PREL CO
SUBJECT: BOGOTA PROPOSAL FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY OUTREACH FUNDS 
 
REF: STATE 16639 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  Embassy Bogota proposes an agbiotech outreach 
program in Colombia for 2008 focused on engaging  executive 
branch officials, legislators, and agricultural industry 
representatives regarding policy and regulatory issues 
associated with agbiotech and its benefits as a tool in 
poverty reduction.  While the GOC has generally been 
favorable to agbiotech and has an adequate regulatory 
framework, strengthening and reinforcing this approach should 
be a USG policy priority.  Specifically, Colombian 
Congressional labeling efforts, resistance among some 
technocrats, and the slow regulatory approval process remain 
serious concerns.  We need to bolster domestic constituencies 
that share our approach, and help them make the case that a 
modern agbiotech regime brings social as well as economic 
benefits to Colombia.  END SUMMARY. 
 
BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
¶2.  Colombia's approach to agbiotech has generally been 
favorable.  The country has an established legal framework 
and approval process for agbiotech crops.  The GOC has 
approved transgenic cotton, blue carnations and select 
varieties of corn for commercial production, with other crops 
in the approval process or research stage.  Some agricultural 
institutes continue transgenic research for key crops such as 
sugarcane, flowers, coffee, and oil palm.  Colombia is a 
major importer of U.S. transgenic corn, and has experienced 
limited anti-biotech agitation to date.  Development of a 
homegrown agbiotech industry would serve as an important 
development tool and create a domestic constituency for 
Colombia to support agbiotech policies in international fora 
consistent with USG interests.  Finally, the Uribe 
administration has made anti-poverty efforts and rural 
development significant goals.  Demonstrating the links 
between agbiotech and these goals could help overcome 
barriers to agbiotech in Colombia. 
 
¶3.  Despite Colombia's overall positive environment for 
agbiotech, some concerns exist.  A bill being considered by 
the Congress could damage agbiotech as it would require that 
all genetically modified products as well as food and feed 
products made from genetically modified ingredients to be 
labeled "transgenic" without additional explanation.  Such 
labeling will give consumers the false impression that there 
is something wrong with the product and therefore have 
significant costs to the U.S. and Colombian agbiotech 
industry.  In addition, the Ministry of Environment has 
argued that agbiotech can create a significant environmental 
hazard.  There also appears to be misunderstanding of the 
requirements of the Cartagena Protocol, with some regarding 
it as a reason to oppose agbiotech.  Finally, approval of new 
products by the interagency technical committee continues to 
be slow and cumbersome with technical personnel from the 
environment and health ministries often impeding the process. 
 
 
PROPOSAL TO PROMOTE AGBIOTECH DIALOGUE 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  Embassy Bogota believes the most effective program would 
be an informational exchange, which support the following USG 
objectives:  (1) to stress the global scientific consensus on 
the safety of agbiotech products,  (2) to publicize the 
benefits of agbiotech as a development tool, and (3) to 
facilitate opening markets and advocating responsible 
regulation, including minimizing the trade impact of the 
Protocol on Biosafety (Cartagena Protocol), and by 
encouraging trade facilitative guidance in the Codex 
Alimentarius. 
 
¶5. PROGRAM :  Promoting Agbiotech Dialogue 
 
DESCRIPTION:  A three-day visit by a team of three U.S. 
agbiotech experts.  The team would include individuals who 
can address the scientific health and environmental aspects 
of agbiotech, legislative and policy aspects of agbiotech, 
links between agbiotech research and industry, business and 
development benefits of agbiotech, and the public perception 
issues associated with agbiotech.  The team would be in 
Colombia for three working days (with two additional days for 
travel between the U.S. and Bogota).  Experts should be 
prepared to discuss health and environmental aspects of 
agbiotech, compare and contrast differences between the U.S. 
and Colombian legal and regulatory framework for agbiotech, 
explain the implications of the Cartagena Protocol, discuss 
how to link the agbiotech scientific research community with 
the business community and how to build agbiotech research 
capacity, illustrate business and developmental benefits of 
agbiotech, and discuss public relations issues associated 
with agbiotech.  Experts will need to be highly credible and, 
ideally, have at least a working level proficiency in 
Spanish. 
 
SPECIFIC PROGRAM POLICY OBJECTIVES:  Reduce possibility of 
enactment of a law that could harm the U.S. and Colombian 
agbiotech industry, promote efficient and responsible 
agbiotech regulation, educate local leaders about the WTO 
decision against the EU moratorium on biotech product 
approvals and the implications of the Cartagena Protocol, 
encourage links between the agbiotech scientific research 
community and the agbiotech business community and publicize 
the benefits of agbiotech as a development tool by stressing 
the poverty alleviation and food security benefits of the 
reduced inputs and increased yields offered by agbiotech. 
 
TARGET AUDIENCE:  Congressional and political party 
leadership, legislators and legislative staff involved in 
agbiotech issues; Ministries of Agriculture and Rural 
Development, Environment, Health, Commerce and Trade; 
regulatory bodies involved in agbiotech; National Technical 
Committee for Biosafety Issues (NTC-Bio); producer 
organizations (Asocolflores, Sociedad de Agricultores de 
Colombia, Asociacion Nacional de Empresarios de Colombia, 
Federacion Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, Asociacion de 
Cultivadores de Cana de Azucar de Colombia, Federacion 
Nacional de Cultivadores de Palma de Aceite), and 
agricultural research institutes (Colombian Agricultural 
Institute-ICA, Agricultural Research Agency-Corpoica, 
Cenicafe, Cenicana, Cenipalma, Ceniflores, Intl. Center for 
Tropical Agriculture); and academic institutions (Univ. 
Nacional; Javeriana Univ., Univ. de los Andes). 
 
LENGTH:  Approximately four 2-3 hour roundtable meetings with 
GOC legislative and executive branch policy officials, 
agbiotech regulators and producer associations in Bogota over 
two days; followed by a one day trip to research institutes 
outside of Bogota, possibly in conjunction with a local 
agbiotech event; plus one day travel to Colombia and one day 
return to the U.S.  Total five day commitment by speakers. 
 
COST:  Estimate cost of USD 25,000 to include transportation, 
accommodation, expenses, and interpretation as follows: 
 Transport.       USD  3,750  (USD 1,250 r/t air to Bogota x 
3 persons) 
 Local Travel.    USD  1,500  (USD 500 r/t within Colombia x 
3 persons) 
 Per Diem         USD  3,750  (USD 250/day x 3 persons x 5 
days) 
 Honorarium       USD  3,750  (USD 250/day x 3 persons x 5 
days) 
 Interpret.       USD  1,500  (USD 500/day x 3 days) 
 Meeting Rooms    USD    750  (USD 250/day x 3 days) 
 Misc.            USD  1,000  (materials, invitations, etc.) 
 TOTAL            USD  16,000 
 
¶6. PRESS COVERAGE.  Post proposes to create radio newsfile 
op-eds with visiting experts, for distribution throughout 
Colombia via PAS' radio newsfile distribution and USAID's 
community radio program to ensure a wide audience.  In 
addition, the op-ed text will be distributed for publication 
to trade magazines and journals related to the industry.  We 
will also provide individual press opportunities for visitors 
to engage with reporters familiar with agbiotech issues. 
 
¶7. CONTACT:  Point of contact and control officer for 
proposed programs is Ari Nathan, Economic Section; tel: 
( 57-1) 383-2451; fax: ( 57-1) 383-2053; email: 
nathana@state.gov. 
 
Nichols