This year sees the 66th anniversary of FAO’s foundation in Quebec, Canada on 16 October 1945. It will be marked in Bangkok by an important event to which the media are invited. Arrangements for the media are described below.

On Monday 17 October HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will preside over the 31st World Food Day (WFD) observance at the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. The Thai minister of agriculture and cooperatives, other senior Thai government officials, Bangkok based members of the diplomatic corps, UN organizations and civil society will attend the ceremony.

Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will deliver the keynote address Food prices – from crisis to stability.

FAO awards will be presented to five model farmers from the Asia-Pacific region: Japan, Lao PDR, Maldives, Papua New Guinea and Thailand.

The ceremony starts at 09:00 hours and last until 10:15 hours. After the ceremony journalists are invited to join refreshments and have the opportunity to interview guests, participants and FAO staff.

Press Passes should be collected on Monday morning 17 October between 08:00 and 08:30 hours immediately before the start of the ceremony at the FAO office in Bangkok, upon presentation of a valid press card or a letter of accreditation from the employer. A press kit will be provided to each journalist attending the celebration.

For reasons of space and security, the following arrangements will apply:
• There will be an area to accommodate photographers and cameramen wishing to record the arrival of dignitaries. They must be in place by 08:45 hours.
• Print, radio and TV journalists, photographers and cameramen will be accommodated in the Conference Hall where the ceremony takes place or, alternatively, can follow proceedings by CCTV in the reception hall.

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High and volatile food prices are likely to continue. Demand from consumers in rapidly growing economies will increase, population continues to grow, and any further growth in biofuels will place additional demands on the food system. On the supply side, there are challenges due to increasingly scarce natural resources in some regions, as well as declining rates of yield growth for some commodities. Food price volatility may increase because of stronger linkages between agricultural and energy markets, as well as an increased frequency of weather shocks.

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More information at:
http://www.fao.org/getinvolved/worldfoodday/en/