MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2009

CORPORATE PROGRAM

ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED. A LIMITED NUMBER OF WALK-INS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

An Outlook on Global Agriculture and Food Security

The Honorable Thomas Vilsack, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

The rise in world commodity prices and the food riots of last year have shown how food insecurity can threaten vulnerable populations, and put economic and international stability at risk. In light of this, President Obama has announced plans to double U.S. financial support for agricultural development to more than 1 billion in 2010. In April, a first-ever meeting took place amongst the Group of Eight (G8) Agriculture Ministers, underscoring the transformative role that agriculture can play in reducing poverty, increasing economic growth, and providing global stability. In fact, the G8 ministers have underscored the need to place agriculture at the core of the political agenda. If action is not taken, food insecurity is expected to worsen in years ahead due to the effects of population growth and climate change. Secretary Vilsack, in partnership with Secretary Clinton, is developing a new U.S. food security strategy, which will include boosting food production in the developing world, improving lesser developed countries' market access, and measures to reduce hunger inside the U.S. borders.

The Honorable Thomas Vilsack was appointed by President Barack Obama and sworn in as the 30th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on January 21, 2009. Secretary Vilsack has served in the public sector at nearly every level of government, beginning as mayor of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa in 1987, and then as state senator in 1992. In 1998, he was the first Democrat elected Governor of Iowa in more than 30 years, an office he held for two terms. Throughout his campaign for Governor, Vilsack articulated a vision for making Iowa the Food Capital of the World and focusing on creating economic opportunity in rural communities and small towns through value-added agriculture. He led trade missions to foreign countries to market agricultural products and attended the Seattle meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to push for expanded agricultural trade negotiations. In addition, he worked to support independent farmers and ranchers by enacting livestock market reform and mandatory price reporting legislation in 1999. Vilsack was a leader among his colleagues. In addition to serving on the National Governors Association Executive Committee, he also served as chair of the Governors Ethanol Coalition, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, and founding member and chair of the Governors Biotechnology Partnership.

The Peninsula Chicago
108 East Superior Street
Chicago, IL 60611
Business Attire required.

7:30 a.m. Registration and Security Check-in
8:00 a.m. Breakfast, Remarks, and Q&A
9:15 a.m. Adjournment

Members $35
Nonmembers $45

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