VZCZCXYZ0015
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTO #0054/01 0211139
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 211139Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9820
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0332
RUCLRFA/USDA FAS WASHDC

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000054 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EB/TPP/ABT, OES/PCI, AND AF/S 
DEPT PASS EB/TPP/MTAA/ABT - MSZYMANSKI, JBOBO 
USDA FAS FOR OSTA/NTPMB - FNAIM, EPORTER, MCHESLEY 
USDA FAS FOR OCBD - KSKUPNIK, JMAURER, MMOORE, DEVANS 
USDA FAS FOR OCRA - KMCKINNELL, AFERRUS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD SENV TBIO KPAO MZ
SUBJECT: MAPUTO'S PROPOSAL FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY FUNDS 
 
REF: A. STATE 129940 
     ¶B. PRETORIA 2513 
 
¶1.  Summary:  Embassy Maputo requests funding from the FY 
2009 Biotechnology Outreach Strategy Fund to bring two 
subject matter experts to Mozambique to meet with regulators, 
academia, consumers, and legislators on currently relevant 
topics such as risk assessments, field trial management, 
labeling of foods containing genetically modified organisms, 
regional harmonization, and intellectual property rights. 
This proposal was developed by FAS/Pretoria in coordination 
with EST/Econ and PAS.  We considered Government of 
Mozambique (GRM) and NGO representatives' input to establish 
this proposal. 
 
¶2.   Since FAS/Pretoria is a regional post, covering much of 
Southern Africa, we are coordinating with Embassies in 
Madagascar, Mozambique, and Mauritius to submit separate 
proposals requesting funding for similar programs to support 
a regional biotech strategy.  End Summary. 
 
Regional Background 
------------------- 
 
¶3.  Over the past 4 years, using funding from State/EEB and 
USDA, FAS/Pretoria has developed relationships with key 
partners in Southern Africa, the United States, and 
international organizations to address regulatory and public 
acceptance issues pertaining to biotechnology.   As these 
relationships have developed, trust and respect has also 
grown between the USG and the biotech industry, both public 
and private.  To continue to build on these relationships, we 
are requesting funding again this year to bring U.S. experts 
to engage the local industry and stakeholders in discussions 
on topics such as labeling, risk assessments, management of 
field trials, and regional harmonization. 
 
¶4.  Misinformation and misperceptions about biotechnology 
threaten the acceptance of U.S. agricultural and food 
products derived from biotechnology in Southern Africa and 
threaten U.S. producers, access to international markets. 
U.S. exports to the largest markets in the region (South 
Africa, Mauritius, Madagascar, and Mozambique) grew over 30 
percent from 2007 to 2008, due to increases in exports of 
intermediate and consumer oriented agricultural goods, such 
as vegetable oils and prepared sauces and cereals.  It is 
expected that U.S. exports to these markets will continue to 
increase in 2009 and beyond as consumer demand increases and 
these countries begin to diversify their suppliers to include 
the United States.  USDA cooperators' interest in conducting 
activities in these markets is also on the rise, leading to 
increased interest in the United States as a supplier. 
 
¶5.  Several key countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have passed 
biosafety legislation in the past year, or are in the process 
of formulating their policies and have requested help from 
USDA.  These include South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, 
and Mauritius.  All have drafted biosafety policies and are 
currently working on implementation procedures.  They are 
very pro-biotech, but admittedly lack the necessary 
understanding of many aspects of biotech and genetic 
engineering.  There is a significant need for training on 
implementation procedures, characteristics of efficient 
regulatory frameworks, producer and consumer awareness 
strategies. 
 
¶6.  The lack of basic understanding of agricultural 
biotechnology among consumers, members of the media and 
political decision makers is a critical impediment to a 
rational, pragmatic acceptance of the technology.  The 
African public remains easily persuaded by misinformation 
regarding the basic risks, benefits and regulatory approaches 
to best evaluate the benefits of adopting agricultural 
biotechnology.  Biosafety committees in the region remain 
inactive or unsure where to focus their attention due to a 
lack of understanding of the benefits of biotechnology.  Due 
to this lack of activity, science-based information in the 
regulatory decision making process is minimal and opponents 
of biotechnology are the most vocal input, which could be 
reflected in new regulations concerning GMOs. 
 
The Agricultural Sector in Mozambique 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  In Mozambique, agriculture contributes over 25 percent to 
GDP and nearly 80 percent of its population relies on 
agriculture for survival.  Due to agriculture's vulnerability 
to natural disasters (droughts and floods), agricultural 
sector growth fell below GDP growth during the late 1990's 
through the present.  Twice the size of California, 
Mozambique has approximately 36 million hectares of arable 
land.  Only 12 percent, however, is under cultivation.  The 
agricultural sector is divided between small-holder 
subsistence farmers, who are responsible for about 94 percent 
of total agricultural production, and commercial farms, owned 
mostly by businesses, which are responsible for the remaining 
6 percent of agricultural production. 
 
¶8.  The commercial farm segment grew approximately 45 percent 
from 2001 to 2003, with a focus on cultivation of tobacco, 
cotton, and sugar.  From 2002 to 2004 agricultural exports 
increased approximately 40 percent to $266 million. 
Non-agricultural exports during the same period increased 
approximately 98 percent.  Mozambique continues to be a net 
food importer despite its natural resources base.  In 2004 
agricultural commodity imports totaled approximately $294 
million.  Wheat, rice, and vegetable oils (palm and soybean) 
were the top commodities imported, followed by oranges, corn, 
and poultry.  Agricultural exports, not including forestry 
and seafood, totaled $122 million in 2004.  Tobacco, cashews, 
cotton and sugar were the major commodities exported. 
 
Biotechnology in Mozambique 
--------------------------- 
 
¶9.  Mozambique has signed and ratified the Cartagena Protocol 
on Biosafety, and the Convention on Biological Diversity.  A 
National Biosafety Framework was drafted to help guide 
further development of biotechnology activities.  These 
regulatory framework efforts were largely due to the presence 
of a UNEP/GEF program for 18 months that helped prepare the 
National Biosafety Frameworks "in agreement with the 
provisions of Cartagena Protocol" and help Mozambique ratify 
the Protocol.  Thus, there are regulators with some training 
and understanding of biosafety issues such as assessment of 
food safety, environmental risk evaluation, LMO detection, 
etc.  Mozambique has experience with biotech-related 
controversies and issues as it is a receiving/shipping point 
for donated corn from the United States for famine 
stricken-regions in Southern Africa (Zambia, Zimbabwe). 
 
¶10.  Mozambique is eager to improve its agricultural 
productivity and recognizes that biotechnology can be a 
valuable tool to enhance the efficiency of its farming sector 
and help in reducing dependence on inputs while improving the 
quality of food.  However, there has been little or no 
investment so far in biotechnology research although some 
strides have been made with biosafety regulation.  Due to the 
potential of the agriculture sector in Mozambique, and the 
lack of investment/advancement in that sector, the Government 
of Mozambique made a call for a second green revolution for 
Mozambique.  One of the tools that will be a leading factor 
in bringing change and advancement in the agriculture sector 
in Mozambique will be the promotion and use of biotechnology. 
 Identified as a cross-cutting technology in Mozambique's 
Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy ("MOSTIS" - see 
septel), due to the enormous potential this technology has to 
impact various sectors of the economy, biotechnology policy 
development is moving more rapidly in Mozambique than in 
Madagascar. 
 
¶11.  A National Biosecurity Regulation on Genetically 
Modified Organisms was published in the GOM official bulletin 
on April 25, 2007.  This regulation was formulated by the 
Inter-Institutional Group on Biosecurity (GIIBS).  The GIIBS 
is tasked to coordinate biosafety activities in Mozambique. 
It is an inter-institutional and multi-disciplinary group 
with the task of coordinating the process to establish the 
National Biosafety Framework including the development of 
biosafety policy, regulatory regime, and administration based 
on the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which Mozambique 
ratified in December 2001.  The Ministry of Science and 
Technology is the national competent authority and presides 
over the GIIBS.  The GIIBS consists of representatives from 
each of the following Ministries: Science and Technology, 
Agriculture, Environment, Health, Industry and Commerce, 
Fisheries, Planning and Development, and academic and 
research institutions.  Additionally, representatives and 
specialists from public and private entities may be invited 
to participate in GIIBS meetings.  (Note: Mozambique's 
biosafety policy appears to be largely risk-averse, and 
rooted in the 'precautionary principle' and thus more similar 
to the policies of European countries and that of EU. End 
Note) 
 
Previous Biotech Outreach in Mozambique 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶12.  FY2008 was the beginning of FAS/Pretoria and the 
Embassy's outreach in biotechnology in Mozambique.  After 
initial contact and meetings with key biotechnology 
stakeholders, FAS/Pretoria secured funding from USDA's 
Emerging Markets Programs to host a workshop on basic 
biotechnology and regulations.  The workshop provided an 
opening to further advance biotechnology and biosafety 
policies in Mozambique.  The meeting featured lectures by two 
invited experts from overseas, Dr. C. S. Prakash, Tuskegee 
University, and Dr. Martin Lema, biosafety regulator from 
Argentina, along with some very high-level policy experts 
from various local ministries - Science and Technology, 
Agriculture, Environment, Health, and Trade; along with 
university scientists and also representatives from CGIAR 
centers. 
 
¶13.  As a result of this workshop and the relationships 
developed during those two days, FAS/Pretoria was invited to 
participate in a biotechnology regulations conference 
sponsored by the GRM and the Spanish Embassy in Maputo. 
FAS/Pretoria provided for the participation of a 
biotechnology researcher from South Africa's Council for 
Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), who is also an 
active member of AfricaBio, Dr. Eugenia Barros.  Dr. Barros 
was a speaker and moderator at the conference.  She provided 
an excellent overview of biotechnology in South Africa and 
lessons learned through the development of its biosafety 
policy.  Dr. Barros is a native Portuguese speaker, which 
lent credibility and audience acceptance to her presentation. 
 Since the conference, Dr. Barros' has remained in contact 
with the legislators and regulators in Mozambique and has 
consulted with them on various issues relating to 
biotechnology regulation implementation. 
 
¶14.  An important observation made throughout the 
biotechnology outreach efforts over the past year was the 
important need for capacity building to implement the 
biosafety regulation in their countries, especially in the 
development of specialists in food safety, environmental risk 
assessment, and intellectual property rights issues.  The GRM 
has requested assistance in planning and implementing 
producer outreach strategies, including the development of 
educational materials in Portuguese.  AfricaBio is working 
with contacts in Mozambique in developing these materials but 
are looking for assistance in funding the publication of 
educational materials in Portuguese. 
 
¶15.  Also in the past year, the Embassy hosted an Embassy 
Science Fellow to work with the GRM to prepare a report of 
the status of biotechnology in Mozambique and an 
implementation plan for advancement of biotechnology in 
Mozambique (septel). 
 
Activity 
--------- 
 
¶16.  As a continuation to activities conducted last year in 
Mozambique, we would like to bring two U.S. experts to 
Mozambique to address more specific concerns related to 
biotechnology regulations and implementation.  The experts 
would travel to Mozambique for up to two weeks to engage with 
GRM representatives and other stakeholders on topics to 
include labeling, field trial management, risk analysis, 
producer and consumer outreach strategies, and regional 
harmonization.  The Embassy proposes to hold special meetings 
for media contacts specifically associated with the 
agricultural and biotechnology sectors to discuss 
biotechnology regulations and developments in the United 
States.  Additionally, PAS will arrange press opportunities 
for the visiting expert to engage journalists that cover 
agriculture, agribusiness and biotechnology issues.  These 
could include roundtables with print media, one-on-one 
interviews, radio call-in programs, etc. The majority of the 
experts' time will be spent in Maputo, with the possibility 
of travel to other areas of the country to visit contacts, as 
needed.  Also, we are requesting funding for translation and 
reproduction of outreach materials from English to 
Portuguese, as these materials are very scarce. 
 
¶17.  Length of Program:   Two weeks 
 
Cost for 2 experts: 
 
TOTAL:                                      $22,500.00 
 
Airfare (US - Maputo - US):                  $8,000.00 
Hotel and Per Diem (14 days):                $6,500.00 
Meeting Rooms:                               $2,000.00 
Translation and Reproduction:                $4,000.00 
Miscellaneous (materials, invitations, etc): 
$2,000.00 
 
¶18. As stated in the summary, FAS/Pretoria is the regional 
post responsible for coverage of most of Southern Africa, 
with no staff resident in those countries.  FAS/Pretoria is 
collaborating with ECON/POL/PAS contacts in the missions in 
Antananarivo, Maputo, and Port Louis to submit similar 
proposals for biotech outreach events in those countries. 
Understanding that each proposal must stand on its own merit, 
we would like to have the group considered as a package that 
demonstrates a regional approach to biotechnology in Southern 
Africa.  Regional trade plays a critical role in food 
security in Southern Africa, and disparate regulations 
dealing with biotechnology and its products could severely 
affect the flow of products, including food aid, among the 
countries.  This regional approach is critical in ensuring 
regulations throughout the region are harmonized as not to 
affect trade, development, humanitarian assistance, and 
investment. 
 
¶18.  Points of Contact:  Kari Rojas, Agricultural Attache, 
FAS/Pretoria; (kari.rojas@fas.usda.gov,  27-12-431-4057) and 
Robert Doughten, EconOff, Embassy Maputo 
(DoughtenRF@state.gov,  258-2149-2797) 
Chapman