Intergovernmental Group on Grains
The FAO Intergovernmental Group (IGG) on Grains represents a forum for intergovernmental consultation and exchange on trends in production, consumption, trade, stocks and prices of wheat and coarse grains, including regular appraisal of the world grain situation and short term outlook. The Group, under FAO auspices, considers changes in national grain policies and examines their international effects as pertaining to the current and prospective grain situation. The First Session of the FAO Group on Grains was held in May 1957 and since then it has met once in each biennium. Recent sessions have been held jointly with the IGG on rice. The last Joint Session was held in May 2007 in Istanbul with the collaboration of the Government of Turkey.
Membership in the Group is open to all Member Nations and Associate Members of FAO, including Observers from international organizations and institutions. Nearly all grains importing and exporting countries are Members of the IGG on grains. The last Joint Session elected Mr. R. Parasuram (India) as the Group's Chairperson, Mr. Ayhan Baran (Turkey) and Mr. Hagen Streichert (Germany) as its First and Second Vice-Chairpersons respectively. The FAO Secretary of the IGG on Grains is Mr. Abdolreza Abbassian.
