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Merrigan to Chair FAO Meeting

The 36th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Ministerial Conference begins this Wednesday in Rome, Italy and runs through next Monday. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan will lead the U.S. delegation and serve as chairman of the conference. The U.S. delegation will also include U.S. Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs Nerissa Cook, and others.

"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 is the first woman to chair this conference and will oversee discussions on the ongoing FAO reform effort and will officiate as heads of delegations present their country's view of the state of food and agriculture at the conference's plenary session.