The President's message was clear. The ban is hurting the countries that need the most help. Acting on unfounded, unscientific fears many European governments have blocked the import of all new biotech crops. Because of these artificial obstacles many African nations avoid investing in biotechnology, worried that their products will be shut out of important European markets. The President spoke to a very receptive audience, a gathering of scientists and officials from top biotechnology companies and laboratories around the world. Mr. Bush also used the occasion to push Congress to pass his bio-shield initiative. It is a plan to put billions of dollars into the development and production of vaccines and treatments that could be used in the event of a chemical or biological terrorist attack.