Presidential board of food security advisers to convene at Purdue
October 19, 2015
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University will host a two-day meeting of the presidentially appointed Board for International Food and Agricultural Development. There are public sessions both Tuesday and Wednesday (Oct. 20-21).
The board advises the United States Agency for International Development on agriculture and higher education issues involving food insecurity in developing countries. Purdue is a key partner with USAID in a number of food security and related programs.
A news media area will be set up in the Terrace Room of Purdue Memorial Union, 101 N. Grant St., beginning Tuesday at noon for reporters needing assistance.
The meeting will highlight key issues related to the crossroads of science, innovation, markets and policy for feeding the world.
A highlight of the meeting will be the closing panel discussion, with Purdue President Mitch Daniels as moderator, Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in Stewart Center’s Fowler Hall next to Purdue Memorial Union.
The panel will consist of USAID Acting Administrator Al Lenhardt, former U.S. ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania; Peter McPherson, president of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities and formerly USAID administrator and president of Michigan State University; Brady Deaton, chair of BIFAD and chancellor emeritus of the University of Missouri; and James Morris, former executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme and now president of Pacers Sports and Entertainment.
Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions of the panelists.
Both days will include public discussions with Purdue and national experts in the science and policy of food production and food security. Sessions will be held in Stewart Center and Purdue Memorial Union.
The board typically meets in Washington, D.C., but recently began a program to meet at university campuses of board members to increase public awareness of the partnership between U.S. universities and the government in providing technical assistance to developing countries. Gebisa Ejeta, a Purdue distinguished professor of agronomy and 2009 World Food Prize laureate, has been on the board since 2010, when he was appointed by President Barack Obama. Ejeta recently was reappointed to second term.
The full public agenda and other information about the meeting are available on the Purdue BIFAD website at https://ag.purdue.edu/bifad/.
There also will be live tweets on Twitter that can be followed at "#BIFAD."
Media representatives with questions can contact Keith Robinson, coordinator of news and public affairs in Purdue’s Department of Agricultural Communication, at 765-494-2722 or by email at robins89@purdue.edu.
Writer: Keith Robinson, 765-494-2722, robins89@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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