Private Sector for Food Security Conference
13 September 2012

Top managers from over 100 agricultural companies, ministers of agriculture and leaders of international organisations will discuss ways to help private enterprises - from the southern Mediterranean to the east of Russia - on their way to doubling food production. This is the first time the issue of private initiative in agriculture will be discussed by so many high-level producers and policymakers. Food is produced by private companies, small farmers, farmers’ cooperatives as well as large multinationals. However, food security has so far been an issue mainly discussed among governments with limited involvement from the private sector. The conference, hosted by the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Turkey, Mehmet Mehdi Eker, will be opened by the EBRD President, Sir Suma Chakrabarti, and FAO Director General, Jose Graziano da Silva, who will give a joint press conference at 11:15am.