Johanns Announces Travel to Rome for FAO Ministerial

JOHANNS ANNOUNCES TRAVEL TO ROME FOR FAO MINISTERIAL

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2005-Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns will lead the U.S. delegation to the 33rd Ministerial Conference of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, Italy, Nov. 20-23.

"This conference will provide an opportunity for Food and Agriculture Organization and World Trade Organization member countries to bridge their differences so we can set a framework for completing the Doha Round by the end of next year as scheduled," said Johanns. "Discussing the benefits of trade liberalization at this conference is absolutely on target as the goals of both meetings are interrelated-to ensure that developing countries have a chance to overcome poverty and hunger by participating in the world economy."

While in Rome, Johanns will present the U.S. view of the state of food and agriculture at the conference's plenary session, which is open to the media. Johanns will also meet with several agriculture ministers from around the world and meet with high-level FAO officials.

The FAO mission 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. Every two years, FAO holds a ministerial conference in Rome, comprised of all 187 FAO member countries, to approve the organization's program of work and budget. This ministerial is the largest meeting of agriculture ministers worldwide.

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