Brasília, March 1, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The II National Food and Nutritional Security Conference will mark a new stage in the federal government's program to combat hunger and malnutrition. On March 17-20 over one thousand delegates representing government agencies, institutions, food security councils (Conseas), and non-governmental organizations will meet in Olinda (PE) to draw up new strategies to combat hunger in the country.

The meeting will identify the food security situation of the Brazilian population, map and evaluate successful experiences, propose guidelines for the National Food Security Plan, and discuss the need to create an Organic Law for Food and Nutritional Security. The program includes important themes such as the generation of employment and income, food security elements in agrarian reform, and the strengthening of family farming, among others.

According to sociologist Edmar Gadelha, executive secretary of the Minas Gerais Consea, the transformation of the means of food production should be the major component of national food security policy. "We must strengthen and encourage family agriculture and small and medium rural producers, for them to participate once again in supplying their community," Gadelha affirms, pointing out that this measure is important to generate income and facilitate cheap access to good quality food.

Organized by the National CONSEA and the Ministry of Social Development and Hunger Alleviation, the Conference is receiving institutional support from the FAO, Unesco, and the NGO Zero Hunger Support. (DAS)