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	Ministerial Conference and Expo on Agricultural Science and Technology 06/23/03: CABIO: Mobilizing Science and Technology to Reduce Poverty and Hunger 06/23/03: Biotechnology for International Agricultural Development 06/23/03: Assessing the Potential Impacts of Agricultural Biotechnology in East Africa 06/23/03: Global Health Concerns: Food-Based Interventions are the Solution 06/23/03: USAID/SADC Heartwater Research Project 06/23/03: Developing Transgenic Papaya Resistant to Ringspot Virus for the Lake Victoria Region of Africa 06/23/03: SARB: Southern African Regional Biosafety Program 06/23/03: Educating Scientists for Management More on USAID's Agriculture programs...
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Ministerial Conference and Expo on Agricultural Science and Technology

Three-quarters of the world’s poor and hungry are located in rural areas. They depend directly and indirectly on agriculture and agriculture-related activities for their food and income. Because of low productivity, many of who live in this situation are food insecure, and any crisis, whether it be a flood, famine, war or other, can cause people to go hungry. As a result, the cost of food insecurity is enormous. The related persistence of chronic hunger, malnutrition and threat of famine is simply unacceptable. In support of the U.S. commitment to strengthen global food security, USAID is jointly sponsoring an international Ministerial Conference and Expo on Agricultural Science and Technology from June 23-25, 2003 in Sacramento, California. Ministers will be invited from over 180 nations. The Department of Agriculture and the Department of State are sponsoring the event with USAID.

The Conference and Expo focuses on the critical role science and technology can play in raising agricultural productivity in developing countries to increase food security and reduce poverty in an environmentally sustainable way. The Conference aims to broaden participants’ knowledge and understanding of relevant science and technology, including biotechnology, and enhance access to new technologies through public-private partnerships. Increasing agricultural productivity through technology adoption is a key means of boosting both food availability and access and improving nutrition.

Agricultural production, processing and marketing technologies from developed and developing countries will be examined, as well as critical issues regarding the transfer and indigenous development of technologies. The Conference will also address low- and high-cost technologies and state-of-the-art and more traditional methods. Attendees will discuss the benefits of technology to both commercial and subsistence farmers, including the critical role of women in rural areas.

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