VZCZCXRO5506
RR RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHIL #0444/01 0310212
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 310212Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4759
INFO RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 4149
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 8788
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 4705
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 3380

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 000444 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EEB/TPP/ABT/BTT/JOHN FINN AND GARY CLEMENTS 
USDA FOR FAS/OSTA/ANDREW RUDE AND CALEB OKRAY 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD KPAO TBIO PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN: FY 2008 BIOTECH OUTREACH STRATEGY AND FUNDING 
REQUEST 
 
REF: 07 STATE 160639 
 
¶1. Summary:  Despite playing a critical role in the original Green 
Revolution, Pakistan has lagged behind neighbors India and China in 
the development and utilization of modern agricultural 
biotechnology.  In response, the Government of Pakistan (GOP) is 
looking to make the leap to join the "Gene Revolution," by 
incorporating commercial biotechnology into the country's 
agriculture.  In response, Embassy Islamabad has outlined 
biotechnology outreach goals for the coming year.  Embassy Islamabad 
requests funding in the amount of USD 58,000 for two proposals: a 
Biotechnology Science Fellow and a Pakistan Biotechnology 
Conference.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. The lack of intellectual property protection for seed breeders 
represents the biggest obstacle to the adoption of legal biotech 
seeds for major crops, including cotton.  Without adequate IPR 
protection, multinational agricultural biotechnology companies are 
unwilling to partner with Pakistan's biotech research centers to 
develop genetically engineered (GE) crops. 
 
¶3. Pakistan freely imports certain bioengineered products, including 
soybeans, soybean meal and soybean oil.  While there are no legally 
planted biotech crops in Pakistan, at least 40 percent of all 
domestic cotton is genetically engineered.  The modified seed, 
developed for crop conditions in China, India and Australia, has 
performed poorly in the face of mealy bugs and cotton curly leaf 
virus. 
 
¶4. Current biotech crops under development in Pakistan include 
cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, canola (rapeseed), tomatoes, 
potatoes, chilies, peppers and melons.  Research centers are looking 
to engineer crops that are virus and insect resistant, tolerant to 
increased soil salinity and able to survive in drought and extreme 
heat. 
 
¶5. Embassy Islamabad's biotechnology outreach goals for FY 2008 
are: 
 
--Assist the GOP through the U.S.-Pakistan Science and Technology 
Agreement in the implementation of the GOP's proposed 
"Green-to-Gene" Initiative. 
 
--Support the promulgation of sensible IPR legislation to protect 
seed patents to allow collaboration between international plant 
breeders and Pakistan's biotechnology research centers.  Post is 
also working actively on data protection for life sciences and 
pharmaceutical companies test data. 
 
--Promote scientific exchanges in the area of plant and animal 
genomics through the USDA endowments at the Pakistan Agricultural 
Research Center and agricultural universities nation-wide. 
 
--Utilize the International Visitors Leadership Program to send 
Pakistani opinion leaders to the United States on a biotech-focused 
tour. 
 
--Utilize the Foreign Press Center to organize a Biotech Reporting 
Tour for Pakistani media. 
 
--Locate a Biotech Science Fellow for a 3-month sabbatical in 
Islamabad to work with Pakistani policymakers, opinion leaders, 
scientists and educators to identity ways forward for the adoption 
of genetically modified crops. 
 
--Co-sponsor a Biotechnology Workshop to address the major issues 
impeding the development of agricultural biotechnology in Pakistan. 
 
 
¶6.  Embassy Islamabad requests additional funds for two projects: 
 
--Embassy Islamabad would like to invite a Biotech Science Fellow 
for a 3 month sabbatical in Islamabad.  Embassy Islamabad would look 
to the Science Fellow to provide leadership in identifying barriers 
to the promulgation of biotechnology regulations and to identify 
areas of scientific collaboration and potential research 
partnerships between Pakistani and U.S. scientists.  The Fellow 
would also engage in public outreach activities with students, 
policy makers, opinion leaders and the media to promote the science 
of genetic engineering. 
 
The Biotechnology Science Fellow would assist the GOP in removing 
barriers to the passage of biotechnology regulations and foster 
 
ISLAMABAD 00000444  002 OF 002 
 
 
U.S.-Pakistan collaboration in seed development.  The Fellow would 
work with the Embassy's Public Affairs Section to promote a positive 
image of biotech crops and explain how biotechnology can help 
Pakistan in meeting food security requirements. 
 
Proposed Length: 3 months 
 
Estimated cost: USD 51,000 
 
Target audience:  Pakistan's policy makers, opinion leaders, 
scientists, students and the media. 
 
--Embassy Islamabad also seeks additional funding for a 2-day 
Biotechnology Conference and Workshop.  U.S. speakers would include 
the Biotechnology Science Fellow and one additional U.S. 
biotechnology researcher.  Most papers presented would be from 
Pakistani biotechnology leaders in the field of research, policy and 
education.  The conference would focus on the implementation of 
Pakistan's "Green to Gene" initiative, the current status of 
Pakistani biotechnology research, food security, biofuel development 
and potential areas for U.S.- Pakistan scientific collaboration.  A 
conference report would be published following the workshop. 
 
Proposed Length: 2 days 
 
Estimated Cost: USD 18,000 (Including the cost for U.S. participant: 
USD 15,000 for two weeks; conference room: USD 2,000; publication: 
USD 1,000) 
 
Target audience:  Pakistan's policy makers, opinion leaders, 
scientists and media. 
 
¶7. All project inquiries can be addressed to Alex Whittington, 
Economic Officer, whittingtonae@state.gov, tel:  92.51.208.2667. 
 
PATTERSON