3 July 2017, Rome--- The 40th Session of the FAO Conference (3-8 July 2017), the organization’s highest governing body which reviews and votes on the program of work and budget and discusses priority areas related to food and agriculture, started today at FAO headquarters in Rome. Some 1,100 participants will attend the meeting, including one head of state, one prime minister, 82 ministers and numerous representatives from international organizations, the private sector and civil society.