VZCZCXRO6271
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHVI #0394/01 0911146
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 011146Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1791
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2235
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 VIENNA 000394 
 
SIPDIS, SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EB/TPP/BTT JACK BOBO, JFINN; EUR/PPD ASHLEY 
WHITE 
USDA FOR FAS EPORTER, EJONES, DYOUNG, SNENON, GLAIDIG 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD TBIO KPAO
SUBJECT: Agricultural Biotech Outreach Shows Faint 
Glimmers of Hope In Austria Despite Political Hardline 
 
REF: a) STATE 52602, b) STATE 160639 c) Vienna 312 
 
Sensitive But Unclassified - Not for Internet 
Distribution 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY.  From March 2 to 4, Embassy Vienna 
carried out a series of biotech outreach activities.  The 
target audience of the program consisted of agricultural 
students, farmers, farmers' representatives, and 
government officials.  Two U.S. farmers from Iowa 
reported about their long-term experiences in planting 
biotech crops.  The farmers met with about 150 farmers 
and agricultural experts within 6 meetings.  The 
presentations of the U.S. experts were followed by 
extended discussions.  Despite a broad political front 
against agricultural biotechnology in Austria, most of 
the attendees showed keen interest in green biotechnology 
and acknowledged the potential benefits of biotech crops. 
Coincidentally, on the day the outreach visit started, 
the Government of Austria (GoA) was marshalling votes in 
Brussels to block the lifting of Austrian import bans on 
EU approved biotech varieties -- giving Post cause for 
concern that the visit would become contentious -- but 
the speakers were greeted with polite and genuine 
interest.  The outreach events were part of a wider visit 
including Hungary.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. The GoA, driven by NGOs, plays a leading role in anti- 
biotech efforts within the EU.  Austrian public opinion 
reflects the hard-line, anti-biotech, emotional mindset 
of politicians and NGOs.  Post considers that negative 
public attitudes in Austria towards green biotechnology 
cannot be changed in the near future.  However, there is 
a chance to slowly bring the discussion to a more 
scientific focus by informing interested stakeholders in 
the agricultural sector.  Therefore, the main goal of the 
speakers' outreach program in Austria was to explain to 
Austrian farmers and agricultural experts why U.S. 
farmers grow biotech crops from a practical point of 
view.  The U.S. speakers talked about their experience 
and their benefits using biotechnology in crop production 
for food, feed, and biofuels.  The program stressed the 
personal benefits of biotech crops for farmers, such as 
having more free time for their families through spending 
less time on the fields. 
 
¶3. One broadly discussed issue was the experience of U.S. 
farmers with Bt-corn varieties to manage field 
infestation with corn root worm.  The speakers also 
reported on the environmental gains from decreased use of 
pesticides and reduced soil erosion.  For many 
participants it was enlightening to learn that one could 
choose between various genetic features ("events") and 
combinations of events for specific purposes.  Another 
focus was the potential of biotech crops to contribute to 
production of biofuels.  The speakers countered the EU 
common opinion that farmers growing biotech crops are 
highly dependent on big seed companies.  The farmers 
demonstrated plausibly that they are growing these crops 
because of the benefits they can gain. 
 
¶4.  PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS - TARGET GROUPS 
 
-- Agricultural secondary college and research institute 
Francisco Josephinum in Wieselburg -- approximately 60 
agriculture students, ages 18-19; some will go on to 
university; others will return to manage farms 
 
-- Press interview with agricultural journalist from the 
agricultural industry news service,  AIZ (Agrarisches 
Informationszentrum) 
 
-- Agricultural University (University of Applied Life 
Sciences, BOKU). Participation of approximately 70 
students studying life sciences.  The seminar was 
sponsored by the university students' biotech club. 
 
-- Chamber of Agriculture (compulsory farmers' 
representational organization).  Participants were mainly 
extension staff members. 
 
-- Land- und Forstbetriebe Oesterreich (association of 
larger-scale farmers in Austria).  Participants were 
member farmers and staff members of the organization. 
 
-- Government representatives of Austrian Health Ministry 
and Agriculture/Environment Ministry.  The roundtable was 
 
VIENNA 00000394  002 OF 003 
 
 
held in the U.S. Embassy in Vienna. 
 
¶5.  Despite widespread anti-biotech sentiments in 
Austria, most meeting attendees showed genuine interest 
in the experience of the U.S. farmers.  The team was 
warmly welcomed and with one exception, all discussions 
occurred in an open and friendly way.  The majority of 
participants appreciated the opportunity to learn about 
the practical use and benefits of agricultural 
biotechnology.  The feedback from participants and 
organizers was positive.  Many farmers and farmers' 
representatives said they would be interested in the 
technology and recognize the benefits, but do not see an 
option for Austrian farmers to utilize biotech crops 
because they are not accepted by the general public. 
Tremendous pressure from NGOs to abstain from 
biotechnology, the political environment, and consumer 
preferences for organic products makes it almost 
impossible for them to talk about benefits of biotech 
crops. 
 
¶6. In our experience, potential users of green 
biotechnology (farmers and students) show a much more 
balanced and scientific approach towards the technology 
than Austrian politicians, NGOs and most media. Austria's 
largest and most influential newspaper, for instance, is 
a fierce opponent of biotech products.  Farmers' 
representatives confirmed that there is an unfounded fear 
about the safety of using biotechnology and a lack of 
discussion based on scientific knowledge. 
 
¶7.  During their program in Austria, the U.S. farmers met 
with one journalist from an Austrian agricultural news 
service (Agrarisches Informationszentrum or AIZ) to 
discuss the future of biotech crops in the United States 
versus the EU and Austria.  One of the issues was the EU 
vote on biotech import bans which took place on March 2. 
This led to a discussion on the future of biotech in the 
EU in light of majority support against forcing Austria 
to lift its cultivation ban against Bt corn.  The 
journalist was knowledgeable and recognized the benefits 
of biotech.  Post expects a balanced article from him, 
recognizing both the benefits of biotechnology and 
political realities within the EU.  He said he will 
publish the article after public sentiment on biotech has 
calmed down a bit. 
 
¶8.  As expected, our roundtable with representatives from 
the Austrian Health and Agriculture/Environment 
Ministries was less than encouraging.  Government 
officials, towing the Government of Austria's anti- 
biotech line, stressed the benefits of non-biotech 
production over biotech production and quoted studies 
they said showed conventional crops were superior to 
biotech crops. 
 
COMMENT 
- - - - 
 
¶9.  While the Austrian public mindset on biotechnology 
cannot be changed in the near future, post believes the 
outreach program was an overall success.  It showed that 
potential users are keenly interested in the technology 
and recognize the benefits, even if they cannot talk in 
public about the benefits of biotechnology.  It could 
also be seen that there is a lot of misinformation on the 
topic in Austria.  Future programs in Austria should 
continue to follow a policy of small steps towards less 
hostile groups.  This goal can be reached by informing 
the interested community of farmers and students to 
counteract misinformation.  Currently Post does not see a 
change of the Austrian political anti-biotech line. 
Nonetheless, exchanging experience and information via 
U.S. experts may help to reduce anti-biotech sentiment in 
central Europe in the mid and long-term. 
 
¶10.  Per a March 20 discussion in Washington between 
Embassy PAO Hugins and Senior Advisor for Biotechnology 
Bobo and colleagues, post and Washington agencies could 
also explore opportunities in future to invite certain 
Austrian media correspondents based in Washington to 
briefings or programs on U.S. food security policies and 
initiatives, including biotech. 
 
¶11.  The Biotech Outreach Team would like to express its 
continued appreciation to the Department of State's 
Office of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Textile Trade 
 
VIENNA 00000394  003 OF 003 
 
 
Affairs and to the Office of Scientific and Technical 
Affairs and Office of Capacity Building and Development 
in USDA/FAS for their contributions and support.  END 
COMMENT. 
 
¶12. This cable was coordinated with FAS Berlin. 
 
KILNER