FORUM. PLEASE RESPOND DIRECTLY TO USDA.
May 8, 1996
Dear Invitee:
On June 3, 1996, a public forum will be held at the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's (USDA) Jefferson Auditorium in Washington, DC. The theme
of the forum is "The United States' Contribution to World Food Security."
The meeting's purpose is to elicit comments and input on the draft U. S.
country paper for the World Food Summit and the draft policy statement and
plan of action to be adopted at the Summit, scheduled for November 13- 17,
1996, in Rome, Italy.
The World Food Summit is aimed at seeking renewed commitment from
world leaders to eradicate hunger and malnutrition and achieve food security
for all through concerted policies and actions at the global, regional, and
national levels. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United
Nations is convening the Summit.
You are encouraged to attend the forum either to voice your comments and
suggestions on the draft U. S. country paper and the draft policy statement
and plan of action or to come and listen. A panel of senior officials from
USDA, the State Department, and the U. S. Agency for International
Development will hear your presentation. If you or your group
wishes to speak, contact the Office of the U.S. National Secretary for the
World Food Summit at USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service, telephone (202)
690-0776. You can also fax your request to (202) 720-6103. Please include a
telephone number where you can be reached during the day. The deadline for
registration to speak is May 24.
In your response, please indicate which of the following subject areas best
describes the topic of your comments: 1) the assessment of the world hunger
problem; 2) U.S. domestic food security programs; 3) the U.S. record of
contribution to world food security; 4) role of countries in helping
themselves; 5) trade and world food security; 6) food aid and
development assistance; and 7) environment and sustainability of global
agriculture. For additional information, contact Chuck Jones at (202) 690-0776.
During the week of May 28, we will notify you which panel you are on and
the time you are scheduled to speak. Panelists will be grouped by similar
subject area. Each speaker on the panel will have 3 minutes to summarize his
or her position and is urged to offer specific suggestions to meet the concerns
raised. Please bring 25 copies of a written statement for inclusion in the
record.
If you are unable to attend in person but want to make a statement, someone
else can speak for you by proxy. In that case, the individual or group needs to
follow the instructions listed above for registration to speak. Otherwise, you
can mail your written statement to Office of the National Secretary,
USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service, Room 3008-South Building, AgBox 1081,
Washington, DC 20250- 1081.
To obtain a copy of the draft policy statement and plan of action or any other
information about the World Food Summit, you may access the U.S.
Government's World Food Summit Home Page
(http:/lffas.usda.govlffas/food_summit/summit.html) or you may
call the FAO's North American Liaison Office (202) 653-2400. The draft U.S.
country paper will be available for review in mid-May. It will be mailed to
those who are speaking at the forum or it can be accessed through the World
Food Summit Home Page.
Another forum will be held on June 24-25, 1996, in East Lansing, Michigan, at
Michigan State University. This forum will allow government officials from
the United States and Canada to get expert comment on a joint regional paper
for the World Food Summit and on the draft policy statement and plan of
action, which is being developed by all nations for adoption at the Summit.
Further details of the forum are contained in the enclosed announcement.
Sincerely,
Avram"Buzz" Guroff
U.S. National Secretary to the World Food Summit
U.S. Forum for the World Food Summit
U.S. Department of Agriculture Jefferson Auditorium, South Building 14th
and Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20250
Monday, June 3, 1996 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
The theme of the forum is "The United States' Contribution to World Food
Security." The meeting's purpose is to elicit comments on the draft U.S.
country paper for the World Food Summit and the draft policy statement and
plan of action to be adopted at the Summit, scheduled for November 13-17,
1996, in Rome, Italy.
You are encouraged to provide comments and specific suggestions on one of
the following subject areas:
% the assessment of the world hunger problem
% U.S. domestic food security programs
% the U.S. record of contributions to world food security
% role of countries in helping themselves
% trade and world food security
% food aid and development assistance, and
% environment and sustainability of global agriculture
To request an opportunity to speak on one of these topics or to provide
written comments, contact:
Office of the National Secretary for the World Food Summit
Tel. (202) 690-0776 Fax. (202) 720-6103
Requests to speak must be received by May 24, 1996.
Forum hosts:
U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Department of State U. S. Agency for
International
Development
FROM:
Lisa Moore,
USDA/FAS/ICD/DRD
Room 3007 South Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20250-1088
Tel: 202 690-1522
Fax: 202 690-1841
FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Outline of Questions for NGOs re: Food Security/World Food Summit
1. The World Food Summit is supposed to deal with long term issues of food
security, but we seem to be in the midst of a short term crisis.
. How serious is it?
. What should we be doing as a government, if anything?
2. With respect to long term food security --
. What are the prospects for food production?
. Where are the biggest problem areas?
. What are the main things we can do --
-- with respect to agricultural research?
-- with respect to food aid?
-- with respect to trade policy?
3. Overall, what should we hope/expect to get out of the World Food
Summit?