Vilsack heads to France for G-20, Paris Air Show
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack heads to Paris this week for a meeting of the agricultural ministers of the Group of 20 countries. The focus of the summit Wednesday and Thursday is on international efforts to ensure global food security.
France chairs the G-20 in 2011 and has called the first-ever meeting of G20 agriculture ministers. French Agriculture Minister Bruno Le Maire has said he hopes to achieve consensus among the ministers on a number of issues, including the need to put some controls on speculation in agricultural markets, but that no deal is certain. Last week the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development issued a joint report saying that higher commodity prices are likely to last quite a while.
In addition to the United States, the G-20 includes Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the Republic of Korea, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
Vilsack will also speak to aviation representatives participating in the Paris Air Show, the largest gathering of the world aerospace industry. The secretary will talk about USDA’s commitment to the development of alternative fuels to improve economic opportunities, decrease dependence on oil, and increase environmental benefits of flying, USDA said.
France chairs the G-20 in 2011 and has called the first-ever meeting of G20 agriculture ministers. French Agriculture Minister Bruno Le Maire has said he hopes to achieve consensus among the ministers on a number of issues, including the need to put some controls on speculation in agricultural markets, but that no deal is certain. Last week the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development issued a joint report saying that higher commodity prices are likely to last quite a while.
In addition to the United States, the G-20 includes Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the Republic of Korea, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
Vilsack will also speak to aviation representatives participating in the Paris Air Show, the largest gathering of the world aerospace industry. The secretary will talk about USDA’s commitment to the development of alternative fuels to improve economic opportunities, decrease dependence on oil, and increase environmental benefits of flying, USDA said.
