DEVELOPMENT OF A U.S. FOOD SECURITY BLUEPRINT ADVANCES
Release No. 0360.97                                            

                                                               
                               Tom Amontree      (202) 720-4623
                                          tom.amontree@usda.gov
                               Linda Habenstreit (202) 720-9442
                                       HABENSTREIT@FAS.USDA.GOV
                                                               
DEVELOPMENT OF A U.S. FOOD SECURITY BLUEPRINT ADVANCES

  WASHINGTON, Oct.16, 1997--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today
announced that a discussion paper on possible international elements of the
U.S. food security blueprint will be released to the public on October 16--World Food Day--at a Congressional Hunger Center forum focusing on U.S. food
security efforts.  The "Discussion Paper on International Food Security"
details the steps that might be taken by the United States to address a
variety of concerns about international food security issues.

  "Last November at the World Food Summit in Rome, the United States, along
with more than 180 other countries, pledged to reduce undernourishment in the
world by half by the year 2015," said Glickman.  "Since then, we have been
hard at work developing a blueprint, "U.S. Action Plan on Food Security."  The
discussion paper release today is the next critical step in the process of
developing that blueprint to uproot hunger wherever it occurs--whether it's in
sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, or our own inner cities and rural
communities."

  The discussion paper is the result of deliberation among federal agencies
and draws heavily on ideas generated during public consultations.  On November
5, an all-day workshop will be held at USDA headquarters in Room 107-A of the
Jamie L. Whitten Building to receive public comment on the paper.  Further
details will be announced as soon as they become available. 

  In the next few weeks, a discussion paper addressing domestic food security
issues also will  be released, with public consultations to follow shortly. 
These efforts will culminate in the release early next year of a draft U.S.
action plan, which will incorporate international and domestic portions,
followed by public comment, finalization, and ultimately adoption. 

  "We have no illusions about the difficulty of the task we have set for
ourselves," said Glickman.  "We are undertaking to do more for the chronically
hungry in an era of diminishing public resources, burgeoning population, and
growing environmental concerns.  But, we can't shrink from the challenge.  We
owe it to ourselves and to future generations."

  To obtain a copy of the discussion paper or get updated information, access
the U.S. World Food Security Home Page
(http://www.fas.usda.gov/icd/summit/summit.html) or call or write the Office
of the National Food Security Coordinator, USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service,
Room 3008-South Building, STOP 1081, Washington, DC 20250-1081, tel:  (202)
690-0776, fax:  (202) 720-6103.  

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