By DEBORAH BEHRENDS
Illinois Correspondent

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Farm Foundation Forum will examine food safety - communicating with consumers on May 6.

Speakers providing opening comments will include William Hallman of Rutgers University, Jenny Scott of the Grocery Manufacturers Assoc., Christopher Waldrop of the Consumer Federation of America and Neal Hooker of The Ohio State University. After opening comments, the floor will open for discussion, moderated by Charlie Stenholm.

The forum will take place 9-11 a.m. at the First Amendment Lounge of the National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW, Washington D.C. Coffee will be available at 8:30 a.m. RSVP by noon CDT on May 2 to Mary Thompson, Farm Foundation director of communication, via e-mail at mary@farmfoundation.org
There is no charge to participate.

Food, agricultural and rural policy is changing. The increasing integration of the world agricultural economy presents challenges in trade, food safety, animal health and food security. More citizens and interest groups are actively working to influence agricultural, food and rural policy issues.

Farm Foundation organizes these public forums to engage all stakeholders in informed dialogue on food, agricultural and rural policies. Meeting participants examine current policies, explore and analyze alternative policy proposals and offer new proposals. Speakers provide brief topic summaries, with the majority of time devoted to discussion.

Farm Foundation launched this series in February 2006 as the Farm Bill Forums, focusing on issues in the next farm bill. Stakeholders have made it clear they value the opportunity to discuss current and evolving issues. The foundation is continuing the series to address issues beyond those in the current legislation.

Anyone with an interest in agricultural, food and rural policy – including members of Congress, congressional staff, executive branch officials, industry representatives, NGO representatives and members of the media – are welcome to attend and participate.
Farm Foundation works as a catalyst, bringing together producers, industry, interest groups, government and academics to address economic and public policy issues facing agriculture, the food system and the people of rural America. Farm Foundation has a 75-year history of objectivity and does not lobby or advocate positions.