USDA And USAID To Host International Food Aid Conference April 25-27, 2006

WASHINGTON, April 21, 2006 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Agency for International Development are hosting the 8th annual International Food Aid Conference, “Horizon of Hope,” in Kansas City, Mo., at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown from April 25-27, 2006. The conference attracts participants from all segments of the food aid industry, both domestic and international.

Special guest speakers include Chuck Conner, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture; Randall L. Tobias, USAID Administrator (invited); Dr. J.B. Penn, Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services; John Powell, Deputy Executive Director for Fundraising and Communications, United Nations’ World Food Programme; Teresa Lasseter, Administrator, Farm Service Agency; Mike Yost, Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service; Tony Hall, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies, Peter McPherson, President, National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, and leading advocates for hunger relief programs.

The International Food Aid Conference is a forum to improve communication and cooperation among government, non-government, private voluntary organizations and agricultural industry representatives involved in international food aid. The conference provides food aid representatives with opportunities to discuss the effects of farm and food policy, agricultural supply and demand, and international trade policy.

During the conference government agencies as well as the United Nations’ World Food Programme, private volunteer organizations, non-government organizations and agricultural industry representatives will address the vulnerability of food-insecure populations. Participants will identify and discuss steps to improve food aid programs and commodity uses as well. Other topics include hunger and poverty in Africa; the importance of food aid in foreign policy; the impact of World Trade Organization Doha Development Agenda negotiations on food aid policies; health, nutrition, and economic assistance; and future technological innovations and automation improvements in commodity and freight procurements.

Persons with disabilities, who require accommodations to attend or participate in this conference, should contact Debbie Crow at (816) 926-6301, or by email at Deborah.Crow@kcc.usda.gov. For more information about the conference, visit FSA’s web site at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/daco/default.htm .

Contact Information

George Aldaya

Media Contact

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Contact via E-mail