FAO - Media Advisory

World Food Day events 2003

"International Alliance Against Hunger" is the theme of this year's World Food Day, 16 October. WFD marks the anniversary of the founding of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on 16 October 1945 in Quebec City, Canada. WFD is observed in some 150 countries.

Here a list of the main events which are all open to the media. Accreditation will take place at the main entrance of FAO upon presentation of a valid press card.

Tuesday, 14 October

News Conference, Iran Room,
12:00-13:00

FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf will launch the AGORA Project. The project will provide 69 least developed countries with access to FAO data and analysis as well as electronic journals free of charge. FAO and its partners, such as Cornell University, the Rockefeller Foundation and Commercial Publishers will describe the project.

Wednesday, 15 October

FAO Ambassador's Round Table on Fighting Hunger, King Faisal Room
09:30-11:00 and 15:00-17:15

The FAO Ambassadors will play a major role in the discussion on the fight against hunger. The already nominated FAO Ambassadors expected to attend are:

Rita Levi Montalcini, Gina Lollobrigida, Magida al Roumi, Al Bano Carrrisi, Mory Kanté, Miriam Makeba, Massimo Ranieri, Dionne Warwick, Youssou N'Dour, Debbie Ferguson, the Associazione Nazionale Italiana Cantanti and possibly Roberto Baggio. The Ambassadors to be nominated on 16 October will also participate in the Round Table.

The Ambassadors will be joined by Italy's Minister for Agricultural and Forestry Policies, Mr. Giovanni Alemanno, Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni, the Director-General of Réseau France Outre-Mer (RFO), André-Michel Besse, the Secretary-General of the Prix Italia, Mr. Carlo Sartori, and the President of Prix Italia, Mr. James Graham. The discussion will be introduced by FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf.

Ambassadors News Conference and Photo Opportunity
11:00-12:30, Iran Room

News Conference, interview and photo opportunity with the FAO Ambassadors.

Partnership signing ceremony between FAO and Réseau France Outre-mer-RFO (France's Overseas Radio and Television Network)
12:00 Australia Room

Mr. André-Michel Besse, President Director-General of RFO and FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf will sign a partnership agreement to strengthen relations between the two institutions and to promote the work of FAO around the world.

Thursday, 16 October

Appointment of New FAO Ambassadors
09:30, Interview and Photo Opportunity

Four new FAO Ambassadors will be announced and introduced to the media.

Main World Food Day Ceremony, FAO Headquarters
10:30, Plenary Hall

FAO Director-General, Jacques Diouf will open the ceremony at which the President of Uruguay, Mr Jorge Luis Batlle Ibáñez will be Key Note Speaker.

Also speaking will be Italy's Minister for Agricultural and Forestry Policies, Giovanni Alemanno. Monsignor Renato Volante, the Holy See's permanent observer to FAO is expected to deliver a message from the Pope John Paul II.

Media Encounter with President Batlle Ibáñez,
12:15, Thai Lounge

Civil Society and NGO Event
14:30-17:30, Green Room

A Civil Society meeting will be moderated by FAO Assistant Director-General Henri Carsalade. The presentations will include:

• "Africa can feed itself" campaign and "What agriculture for NEPAD?": Mamadou Cissokho, Honorary President of the network of peasant farmers' and agricultural producers' organizations of West Africa (ROPPA)
• "More and better": an international campaign for agriculture and rural development aid to eradicate hunger and poverty: Rev. Arthur Simon, Bread for the World Institute; a representative of the Campaign against Famine in Ethiopia
• Tomorrow's farmers and citizens in action: Kirsty Gray, Chair of World Board, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) and Leone Magliocchetti-Lombi,Sub-regional Director for Europe, International Association of Agricultural Students (IAAS)

For further information please visit the World Food Day web site: http://www.fao.org/wfd/index_en.asp or call the Media Relations Office, (+39) 06 570 52519.