GLOBAL AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT INITATIVE

Symposium on Global Agriculture and Food Security:
Progress to Date and Strategies for Success

May 24, 2011
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center | Washington, D.C.

Cochairs:
Catherine Bertini, Executive Director, UN World Food Program (1992-2002)
Dan Glickman, Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture (1995-2001)

Updated Information:

• Twitter - follow and discuss the Symposium by using hashtag #GADISymposium. The Global Agricultural Development Initiative will be tweeting throughout the day's event @globalagdev
• Live Blogging - follow and comment on the event as Roger Thurow, former Wall Street Journal correspondent and author of the book Enough, blogs live on the Global Food for Thought Blog
• The 2011 Progress Report on US Leadership in Agricultural Development will be online shortly after the event launches on May 24th.

Purpose:
On May 24, 2011, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs will convene a symposium to review progress on the U.S. government’s global food security strategy and provide critical thinking on how best to overcome potential obstacles to success. 

The 2011 Symposium will:

• Evaluate progress to date on the U.S. government’s approach to agricultural development and food security, both celebrating successes and identifying opportunities for further work;
• Discuss how long-term U.S. public and private sector support for agricultural development can advance global security, stability, and economic prosperity;
• Offer constructive thinking on future implementation challenges.
  

Keynote Speakers:

• Mr. Bill Gates, Cochair and Trustee, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• The Honorable Rajiv Shah, Administrator, US Agency for International Development 
• The Honorable Thomas Vilsack, Secretary, US Department of Agriculture

Distinguished Speakers:

• The Honorable Lael Brainard, Undersecretary for International Affairs, US Department of Treasury
• Dr. Jason Clay, Senior Vice President, Markets, World Wildlife Fund
• Dr. Wendy J. Chamberlin, President, Middle East Institute
• Sir Gordon Conway, Professor of International Development, Imperial College, London
• The Honorable Ertharin Cousin, U.S. Ambassador, United Nations’ Agencies for Food and Agriculture
• Senator Tom Daschle, Chair, Committee on Agricultural Innovation and Productivity for the 21^st Century, DuPont
• Dr. Shenggen Fan, Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute
• The Honorable Kay Granger, Chairwoman, US House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations
• Dr. Julie Howard, Deputy Coordinator for Development, Feed the Future Initiative
• Dr. Mark Keenum, President, Mississippi State University
• Dr. Namanga Ngongi, President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa 
• Mr. Chris Policinski, President and CEO, Land O’ Lakes
• Ms. Ritu Sharma, Co-founder and President, Women Thrive Worldwide
• The Honorable Josette Sheeran, Executive Director, UN World Food Program
• Dr. Robert L. Thompson, Senior Fellow, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs
• Dr. Connie Veillette, Director, Rethinking U.S. Foreign Assistance, Center for Global Development
• The Honorable Ann Veneman, former Executive Director, UN Children’s Fund; former Secretary, US Department of Agriculture
• Dr. Joachim von Braun, Director, Center for Development Research, University of Bonn
• General Charles F. Wald (Ret.), Director and Senior Advisor, Aerospace & Defense Industry, Deloitte Services LP
• Dr. Derek Yach, Senior Vice President, Global Health and Agriculture Policy, PepsiCo

Symposium Materials:
Working Agenda

Registration:
The Symposium is by invitation only.
For registration or questions about the Symposium, please contact Marjorie Burdetsky (mab@cmpinc.net, +1-703-536-4995).  

Special Instructions for News Media:
Members of the news media must preregister for this event. Please e-mail Liz Poston (lposton@prismpublicaffairs.com, +1-202-207-3638). Photo identification or press credentials required.

Co-Sponsors:
We are pleased to announce our co-sponsors for the 2011 Symposium:

  

Supporting Sponsor:
We are pleased to announce our supporting sponsor for the 2011 Symposium:

Partners:
The Chicago Council is pleased to partner with the following organizations for this event:

Further Information:
Formal invitations and agenda details are forthcoming. For further information on The Chicago Council or the Global Agricultural Development Initiative, please visit our website or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.