Iranian high officials from the Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture and the Ministry of Health and Medical Education left Tehran today (18 November) to participate in the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2), hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) at FAO's Rome headquarters, from 19 to 21 November.

The Iranian delegation at ICN2, which is the first, high-level global event to focus on the nutrition challenges of this century will be headed by Dr. Eskandar Zand, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Head of Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO).

Malnutrition is one of the world's most serious but least addressed health and development problems. FAO Representation in Iran informs that while 805 million people on the planet regularly do not get enough to eat, a staggering 2 billion suffer from micronutrient deficiencies or other effects of inadequate diet. That is about 30 percent of the world population.

"Experiences gained from the UN Millennium Development Goals have taught us that we can only achieve significant results in addressing global challenges through a united commitment", states Serge Nakouzi, the FAO Representative to Iran.

At the first International Conference on Nutrition, held in 1992, global leaders pledged to "act in solidarity to ensure that freedom from hunger becomes a reality."

ICN2 presents an important opportunity for the international community to address this global challenges relating to malnutrition and is expected to come out with the Rome Declaration and a Framework for Action which provide the basis for renewed commitment and focused action for addressing malnutrition within the coming decade.

High-level government representatives from about 150 countries, UN agencies, intergovernmental organizations, members of civil society, foundations, the private sector and experts from around the world and more than 75 Ministers of agriculture and health also will attend the event.