Secretary Going to G8 Meeting

As he prepared to participate in the three-day Group of Eight Agricultural Ministerial which begins this Saturday in Treviso, Italy, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said agriculture is key to strengthening the global economy. - Agriculture is the foundation on which recovery from the global recession and financial and food price crisis will be built, especially for developing countries, which derive much of their income from agricultural production. Vilsack added, - given the magnitude of these issues, we must work together to ensure food security and economic prosperity for all.

The G8 Agricultural Ministerial is comprised of top agriculture leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It is one of nine separately planned ministerial-level meetings delineated by function, including agriculture, development, finance and labor.

Others expected to attend include: agriculture leaders from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, the Czech Republic, Egypt, India, Mexico, and South Africa; as well as the European Union's Commissioner of Agriculture and leaders of the African Union, World Bank, the World Food Program, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the Food and Agriculture Organization.