The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan “will lead the U.S. delegation to the 36th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations Ministerial Conference in Rome, Italy, Nov. 18-23.”According to the USDA news release, Merrigan will be the first woman to chair the FAO conference. Making the trip with Merrigan will be U.S. Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs Nerissa J. Cook, “among others.”
Merrigan stated the following in the USDA news release:
“"FAO is the United Nations' organization whose mandate is to raise levels of nutrition and standards of living, improve agricultural productivity, promote rural development and, ultimately, provide all people at all times with access to the food they need for an active and healthy life,’ said Merrigan. ‘This is the first time in 20 years that the United States will chair this ministerial conference and it comes at a critical time following the World Summit on Food Security. President Obama has committed the United States to a whole-of-government approach to tackle the problem of global food security and the United States will work with more than 130 countries as we move forward with this important effort."
Merrigan will perform the duties as chair while in Rome, but she will also attend meetings with agriculture ministers from various nations around the world. Additionally, there will be meetings with a “high-level international organization and FAO officials as time allows.”
As chair Merrigan will “oversee discussions on the ongoing FAO reform effort and will officiate as heads of delegations present their county’s view of the state of food and agriculture . . . “
The Conference meets every two years. As “supreme governing body of FAO” the Conference determines and implements the organization’s policies. They also have a budget to approve, as well as the “program of work [.]” Additionally, the Conference makes recommendations to “members and international organizations.”
The USDA news release closes with:
In addition to being attended by all members and associate members of the organization, it is also attended by observers from non-member nations, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations. Members include 191 nations, one member organization, the European Community, and one associate member, the Faroe Islands.
Given the state of food security around the world, and all the talk from the United Nations, the United States, and other developed nations about moving towards a more self-sufficient agricultural model in places like Africa that face constant hunger challenges, as well as the long-term outlook of world hunger as the world’s population climbs to 9.2 billion, the Conference has a lot that could take up time on the agenda.
To read the USDA news release click here.
Posted: 11/13/09
