Brasília, 7/8/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Zero Hunger program is about to receive international assistance. Today minister of Environment, Marina Silva, will travel to Italy for discussions on cooperation agreements to strengthen Brazil's Zero Hunger and Zero Thirst programs.

One of the agreements under discussion is with authorities in Toscana, Umbria and Marche who will furnish US$500,000, with an equal counterpart by Brazil.

This agreement is one of a series in which Italy has assisted the new government. In April, a partnership agreement was signed by minister of Food Security and the vice president of Slow Food, Jose Graziano and Roberto Burdese, respectively, for the recuperation of traditional animal husbandry and production with the objective of achieving sustainable production for local consumption.

Marina Silva will also visit the Italian Chamber of Deputies, which will issue an Order of the Day in support of Brazil's Zero Hunger program. (AB)