VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUNV #0499/01 3081520
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 041520Z NOV 09
FM USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0255
INFO RUEHII/VIENNA IAEA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEANFA/NRC WASHDC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC

UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000499 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA, IO/T, ISN/NESS, ISN/MNSA 
PLEASE PASS USAID; WHA PLS CONSIDER REPEAT TO REGIONAL POSTS 
NRC FOR JSCHWARTZMAN, MDOANE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC ENRG TRGY XL XM KNNP IAEA
SUBJECT: IAEA/TC: Cooperation on Food Safety in Latin America and 
the Caribbean 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY:  IAEA Technical Cooperation (TC) efforts to advance 
nuclear applications for food security in Latin America are 
exemplary within the Agency for their regional integration and 
partnering, but much work lies ahead.  Under TC Director for Latin 
America Juan Antonio Casas-Zamora's leadership, members of the 
Regional Cooperative Agreement for the Advancement of Nuclear 
Science and Technology in Latin America and the Caribbean (ARCAL) 
and the IAEA/TC Division have strengthened their working 
relationship in food safety/security, human health, water resource 
management, and agriculture.  While there have been positive steps 
forward, including the planning of regionally integrated projects 
that draw not only on IAEA expertise but also other partners (WHO, 
FAO), challenges remain in the region due to a lack of human 
capacity and environmental hazards associated with the introduction 
of new pests. END SUMMARY 
 
REGIONAL SITUATION 
------------------ 
¶2. (U) According to a 2008 ARCAL report on food safety, ten percent 
of the world's population lives in Latin America and the Caribbean, 
a region comprising 15 percent of the world's surface area.  The 
region provides 21 percent of the world's fruit production, 7.68 
percent of cereal production, 7.73 percent of root and tuber 
production and 11.97 percent of grain legume production.  Along with 
high production, however, come consequences that include a 
progressive degradation of arable soils, the continual reduction of 
natural woodland, and loss of biodiversity. 
 
IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES 
------------------------- 
¶3.  (U) As the TC Division continues to implement projects in food 
safety/security and agriculture; it continues to experience systemic 
problems in the region.  One of the main issues is that scientific 
and technological institutions work in isolation of each other on a 
national and regional level.  This often leads to duplication of 
activities and expenditures.  With duplication comes a lack of 
continuity in research resulting in sometimes vastly different 
requests from national governments to fill perceived needs in a 
specific area.  A nearly constant changeover in senior leadership of 
major scientific institutions also strains project implementation 
and results in a loss of human knowledge/training as people move in 
and out of jobs.  While the lack of human capacity certainly strains 
coherent implementation, environmental threats also add stress.  The 
continued introduction of exotic pests and diseases and the 
potential emergence of new pests and diseases owing to the 
indiscriminate use of agrochemicals is a great concern in many 
agriculture projects. 
 
REGIONAL NEEDS 
-------------- 
¶4. (U) According to a 2008 ARCAL report and Mission's recent 
conversations with TC officials, there is a huge need for further 
human capacity building (training/education) in the application of 
nuclear techniques in agriculture and human health.  There are also 
deficiencies in laboratory capacities in the region.  TC officials 
note that if this need for training and modernization of 
laboratories is not addressed, it will be difficult to extend and 
disseminate nuclear techniques to support technological development 
in agriculture and human health in the region.  There is also a 
continued need for work in curbing the presence of fruit flies and 
coddling moths in the region.  As in Africa, fruit flies cause 
serious damage (up to 20-40 percent losses) to the Latin 
American/Caribbean region's crops.  The IAEA/TC Division continues 
to work on establishing fruit fly-free or low-prevalence areas 
through the use of the sterile insect technique (SIT), which is 
currently the most effective and environmentally friendly option. 
Using SIT as a basis, Argentina has taken the first steps toward 
using the technique against codling moths.  The FAO/IAEA Joint 
Division supports research related to the mass production of sterile 
moths, but more research is needed. 
 
COMMENDABLE PROGRAM STILL HAS WORK TO DO 
---------------------------------------- 
¶5.  (U) COMMENT:  The TC Latin America Division benefits from strong 
management at the Director level and is often cited as an example of 
an integrated TC program that addresses regional, versus national, 
needs in an effort to maximize return on TC fund investment.  The 
use of SIT, a USG supported program, is very important for the 
region and while some countries (Argentina, Chile, Guatemala, Mexico 
and Peru) have embraced using the technique, others have not. 
Brazil and Costa Rica should be encouraged to do more to implement 
SIT.  ARCAL Members should also capitalize on the Joint FAO/IAEA 
Division's support of research in compatibility studies of using SIT 
on the coddling moth to stem trans-border migration.  END COMMENT. 
 
DAVIES