Cablegate: Participants in Peace Process Biosolids Workshop

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

281414Z Apr 05

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 003396

SIPDIS

STATE PASS USAID

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV EAGR PREL XF IS JO
SUBJECT: PARTICIPANTS IN PEACE PROCESS BIOSOLIDS WORKSHOP
EXCHANGE INFORMATION AND E-MAIL ADDRESSES

1. Summary: Twenty-five representatives from Israel, Jordan
and the Palestinian Authority plus five USG officials met in
Sydney March 7-10 in a Peace Process workshop on using
biosolids in agriculture. The workshop was sponsored by the
State Department and presented by USDA and EPA.
Participants represented a wide range of ministries, were
well-qualified professionally, prepared and gave detailed
presentations, and collegially engaged in substantive
discussions. They want related, on-the-ground, practical
activities in the region as a follow-up. Support from
ConGen Sydney was exemplary. End summary.

Multi-Agency Approach to Biosolids
----------------------------------
2. The Sydney workshop was the fifth in a series of
workshops organized under the Multilateral Working Group on
the Environment related to the Middle East peace process.
Dr. Sylvana Li from USDA/FAS/ICD was the principal
organizer, Bob Brobst (EPA), Bob Bastian (EPA) and Dan
Sullivan (Oregon State University) planned the agenda, and
Jim Smith and Bob Brobst from EPA managed the workshop
itself. The core party participants came principally from
water authorities, agriculture ministries, environment
agencies and health agencies in Jordan, Israel and the
Palestinian Authority. There were also legal and energy
specialists in the group. Consul General Stephen Smith
opened the workshop with remarks highlighting the importance
of water and the knowledge of the participants about how to
manage it.

"Beneficial Use" Builds Agriculture, Protects Environment
--------------------------------------------- ------------
3. Previous workshops in this series in Cyprus, Athens,
Amsterdam and Barcelona covered a variety of topics on
hazardous waste and wastewater reuse. The genesis of
biosolids as a topic came from suggestions made at prior
workshops. Biosolids are a processed form of the sludge
that results from wastewater treatment. Currently handled
as a waste product in Jordan and the West Bank, sludge
processed into biosolids can serve as a fertilizer when
processed and applied properly. Termed "beneficial use,"
the use of biosolids in agriculture has twin benefits:
reducing environmental damage from dumping sludge in
landfills or in the ocean, and enhancing crop yields and
soil quality.

Public Acceptance is Crucial
----------------------------
4. There is science to using biosolids appropriately, and
there are major management challenges as well. Scientific
issues include eliminating pathogens, managing heavy metals
and determining appropriate application methods and
quantities. The key issue, though, is public acceptance.
Participants recognized that the best science would be
useless if the public opinion turns against biosolids.
Educating the public about the actual risks from pathogens
and chemical contaminants in biosolids is critical.
Paradoxically, animal manure, although fundamentally the
same as human biosolids, is much less regulated than
biosolids for historical reasons and is perceived as a
"natural" and organic substance. Chemical fertilizers are
also lightly regulated and do not arouse strong public
views. Biosolids, however, have the potential to engender a
negative public reaction in the form of consumer rejection
of crops grown with biosolids.

Israel has Experience; All Parties Cautious
-------------------------------------------
5. Of the three core parties participating in the workshop,
only Israel is currently using biosolids in agriculture on a
large scale. As a measure of Israel's concern over public
opinion, Israel is carefully testing and regulating the
production and application of biosolids. Israel plans to
move by 2007 to producing solely "Class A" biosolids that,
although they contain fewer nutrients than "Class B," have
virtually no pathogens. Current regulations include
restrictions on transportation, standards for maximum
amounts of a long list of potential contaminants, warning
labels, and restrictions on when, where and how biosolids
can be applied. Many of the restrictions focus on limiting
human exposure to biosolids, for example by prohibiting its
use in parks and gardens, near water sources, and on produce
directly consumed by people. Israel has adopted a go-slow
approach that promotes biosolids for less sensitive
applications such as growing animal fodder, reclaiming
rangeland and growing trees. The "beneficial use" of
biosolids as fertilizer is prohibited in Jordan, but Jordan
is moving cautiously towards legalization, in part with
USAID-funded research by the International Arid Lands
Consortium. The Palestinian Authority is also researching
biosolids with an eye towards permitting its use in
agriculture.

Benefits to Agriculture are Clear
---------------------------------
6. Results of scientific studies presented at the workshop
demonstrated the agronomic benefits to the farmer of using
biosolids instead of conventional fertilizer. Test plots in
long-term studies showed distinct improvement in both crop
quality and quantity when using biosolids in place of
chemical fertilizers, although these gains don't emerge
until after the first year. Side-by-side test plots showed
that plants treated with biosolids were larger, had a richer
color, had more blossoms and contained higher quality grain
(e.g. more protein) than conventionally farmed crops. These
benefits stem from the natural condition of the principal
nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) and the presence
of iron, zinc and other micronutrients in the biosolids.

Participants Want More Focused, Practical Follow-up
--------------------------------------------- ------
7. At the wrap-up session and in follow-up comments, the
overall reaction of participants was that the workshop was
excellent and highly appreciated. One participant wanted to
see more presentations from the United States and other
international experts, and fewer from regional participants.
This was because the U.S. and international experts
generally are seen as having more experience and knowledge,
and because there was significant overlap between the
participants' presentations. Several participants felt that
a more focused and practical event with more depth on fewer
topics would serve their needs better than the format used
in this workshop. They also suggested that the next
activity could take place in the Middle East. Several
participants asked about funding for similar activities in
the future.

8. The atmosphere at the workshop was focused,
participatory and professional, with occasional flashes of
humor that remarkably included references to some of the
touchiest aspects of Israeli-Palestinian relations. In the
wrap-up session, participants offered several ideas for
additional workshops, and stressed the need for practical
discussion that goes beyond theory. They also offered
unvarnished comments on the workshop and the field trip,
which provided useful feedback to workshop organizers.

9. Comment: These workshops clearly advance U.S. interests
on several fronts, including expanding scientific knowledge,
building capacity, building person-to-person contacts in the
region, and advancing a sustainable development agenda in
the Middle East. The productivity of these workshops has
been increasing over the years, and participants are ready
to undertake practical projects in the region as a
supplement to the more theoretical workshops.

10. This message was cleared by Dr. Li from USDA/FAS.

HALE

© Scoop Media