Release No. 0149.97

                                                                 
                                      Tom Amontree (202) 720-4623
TAMONTREE@USDA.GOV                                     
                                 Linda Habenstreit (202) 720-9442
                                         HABENSTREIT@FAS.USDA.GOV


GLICKMAN ANNOUNCES DATE OF NATIONAL CONSULTATIONS ON FOOD SECURITY

  WASHINGTON, May 2, 1997--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today announced
that National Consultations on Food Security will be held at 15 sites around
the country including  Washington, D.C. on May 21.  Minneapolis, Minnesota,
will hold consultations on May 23.

  The consultations are being held as a follow-up to the World Food Summit to
stimulate nationwide participation in the development of a U.S. Action Plan on
Food Security.  The U.S. Action Plan will identify the priorities, actions,
and commitments that the U.S. government and groups and sectors within the
U.S. will undertake together to achieve greater food security at home and
abroad.

  "Last November in Rome, I had the honor of heading the U.S. delegation of
governmental and non-governmental officials to the World Food Summit, which
focused international attention on the continuing problem of world hunger and
malnutrition," said Glickman.  "A major outcome of the summit was agreement by
the nations of the world, including the United States, to adopt seven
commitments as part of the World Food Summit Plan of Action.  The objective of
these commitments is to reduce undernourishment in the world by half by no
later than the year 2015.  The seven commitments will be used as a basis for
developing the U.S. Action Plan."

  The general public and individuals from the private sector, non-governmental and international organizations, academia and other interested
groups are encouraged to attend consultations at a site convenient to them. 
Sites include Los Angeles and Sacramento, California; Fort Collins, Colorado;
Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Ames, Iowa; Manhattan, Kansas;
Minneapolis, Minnesota; Lincoln, Nebraska; Columbus, Ohio; Providence, Rhode
Island; Houston, Texas; Everett and Takoma, Washington; and Washington, DC. 
Other sites may be added.  

  A portion of the morning session of the day-long consultations will be
telecast from the Jefferson Auditorium in the South Building of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, on Independence Avenue between 12th and 14th
Streets, SW, in Washington, DC. "It's important that people participate in
these meetings," Glickman said.  "They provide the American public with the
opportunity to contribute their experience, insight and energy to a national
effort to make sure people in need have enough to eat; both in our cities and
towns and around the world."

  The telecast will be broadcast twice by satellite.  The coordinates for the
first broadcast from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time are Satellite:
Galaxy 9 C-Band, Transponder: 2 (Horizontal), Downlink Frequency: 3740 MHZ,
Audio Frequency: 6.2 and 6.8, Location: 123 degrees.  The coordinates for the
second broadcast from 12 noon to 2:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time are
Satellite: Galaxy 9 C-Band, Transponder: 22 (Horizontal), Downlink Frequency:
4140 MHZ, Audio Frequency: 6.2 and 6.8, Location: 123 degrees.  The trouble
number for both broadcasts is (202) 720-8559.
                                
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The telecast will be moderated by Robert Paarlberg, Professor of Political
Science at Wellesley College, with presentations by Administration officials,
members of Congress, and other speakers from the U.S. government, private
sector, non-governmental organizations, and academia.  

  On June 5, the results of the consultations will be reported and discussed
at a meeting at USDA in Washington, DC, to develop a draft outline for the
U.S. Action Plan.  Representatives from each site will travel to Washington to
participate in this meeting.

  Further information about the National Consultations on Food Security can
be found on USDA's World Food Summit Home Page
(http://ffas.usda.gov/ffas/food_summit/summit.html).  Questions may be
directed to the Office of the National Food Security Coordinator, USDA/Foreign
Agricultural Service, Room 3008-South Building, STOP CODE 1081, Washington,
D.C. 20250-1081, tel. (202) 690-0776, fax (202) 720-6103, and TDD (202) 690-4879.
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