CES/08/98
5 November 2008

1st International Conference on the World Food Crisis

The contribution of organised civil society to addressing the world food crisis

Thursday 13 November, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

9, Place d'Iena – 75016 Paris

As part of the French presidency of the European Union, the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council and the European Economic and Social Committee are co-hosting an international conference on the world food crisis.

The conference will begin with opening addresses from Mr Michel Barnier, the French Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Jacques Dermagne, President of the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council and Mario Sepi, the new President of the European Economic and Social Committee.

The following issues will be at the heart of the discussions at the conference:

• The worrying current world food situation;
• Between 800 and 900 million people worldwide suffer from hunger; three-quarters of them live in rural Asia and Africa;
• The hunger riots of the spring highlighted the need to deliver world food security, bringing farming back to the heart of the public debate.

We all have a responsibility to act and Europe, under the French presidency of the European Union, must contribute, by its action, to the implementation of new regulations and new methods of production at global level.

The discussions will bring together representatives of producers, consumers and experts from Latin America, Africa and Europe.

This event will end with a closing speech by Ms Rama Yade, Minister of State responsible for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights.

European Economic and Social Committee
Nathalie Vernick, Press Officer  Nathalie.vernick@eesc.europa.eu tel: +32 475 75 32 02
European Economic and Social Committee
Catherine Léger, Press Officer catherine.leger@ces.fr tel: +33 (0) 1 44 43 61 25