USDA News Release: Veneman To Co-Host Ministerial Conference in Central America (04/26/04)

Remarks by Deputy Under Secretary James Butler at the Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology To Increase Agricultural Productivity Closing Plenary

Costa Rica

May 11, 2004

Minister Coto, Minister Guiterrez, Ministers of Agriculture, Ministers of Science and Technology, esteemed colleagues of IICA, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. On behalf of Secretary Ann M. Veneman and the U.S. delegation, it is a great pleasure to address you at this closing plenary.

As you know, this event is a follow-up to the historic Ministerial Conference and Expo on Agricultural Science and Technology that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Veneman hosted in Sacramento, California almost a year ago. During that conference, Dr. Norman Borlaug, father of the Green Revolution, challenged all of us as policymakers to have the courage to be risk takers. We hope that the candidates from Central America for the newly established Norman E. Borlaug International Science and Technology Fellows Program will take up this challenge.

The diverse views of ministers, delegates, and other participants in the conference this week have added tremendous value to our discussions. The exchange of views during the past two days has been wide-ranging and thought-provoking. In some cases for the first time, Ministers of Agriculture and their counterparts in Science and Technology discussed subjects of common interest. We hope that this dialogue will help to reinvigorate some of the region’s existing mechanisms for cooperation.

We have discussed a shared vision to find solutions and to tap opportunities for applying science to real world problems.

The objectives we outlined for this regional conference in Costa Rica were:

· To improve food security through the application of science and technology;

· To strengthen policy, regulatory and institutional frameworks;

· To promote conventional and state-of-the-art technologies, including biotechnology, to boost productivity and international competitiveness;

· To explore ways to forge public-private partnerships, and;

· To promote a regional system of cooperation for research and development in agricultural science and technology.

We all agree that countries which improve agricultural productivity are able to increase their incomes; to participate in global markets; to reduce hunger and poverty; and to improve the quality of life for their citizens.

Agriculture will continue to be the cornerstone of economies in Central America. As we have heard echoed by many of the speakers over the past two days, harnessing scientific knowledge to enhance agricultural productivity in an environmentally sustainable way remains a number one priority. A clear convergence of agriculture and science and technology has been highlighted in many of the conference sessions.

Several recurring themes emerged during our discussions, which include:

· Renewing commitments to science-based decision making. S

· Using existing knowledge by developing educational and learning processes at the rural level.

· Making a long-term commitment to scientific and technological innovation, both with regard to investments in human capital and physical infrastructures.

· Targeting research priorities relevant to regional needs.

· Developing more effective communication strategies and systems to educate the public concerning the risks and benefits of emerging scientific and technological innovation.

One focal point of interest continues to be the use of biotechnology as a tool to reduce producer costs and to increase agricultural productivity and profitability.

As our economies enter into new trade and commercial agreements, the need to adapt production to market conditions must be strengthened.

By accepting the challenges of improving agricultural productivity through science and technology, Central America, Mexico and the Dominican Republic will be one step closer to confronting hunger and poverty, strengthening food security, and ensuring their countries’ access to the competitive world market.

In closing, I again thank you for having joined us at this Science and Technology Ministerial here in Costa Rica; and for having devoted your valuable time to the issues of critical importance to the region. We challenge you to return to your respective countries energized to initiate the work of the future. Thank you very much.