Announcing the Africa Food and Nutrition Security Day Commemoration

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27-28 October 2011, Midrand Conference Centre, Johannesburg, SouthAfrica

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development Planning and Coordinating Agency (NEPAD Agency) in partnership with the Department of Health in South Africa will, on the 27 and 28^th of October 2011, commemorate the Africa Food and Nutrition Security Day.

The Africa Food and Nutrition Security Day was endorsed by the African Heads of State and Governments during the 15^th AU Summit held in Kampala, Uganda. This say is to be commemorated annually by all member states on 30^th October. The theme for this year’s event is:  “Investing in Intra–Africa trade for Food and Nutrition Security”.

The objectives broadly are:

• To create widespread awareness on the importance of investing in the intra-African trade of strategic food and agricultural commodities in order to promote food and nutrition security on the continent;
• To share best practices, innovations, challenges, and constraints;

• To improve market access and trade opportunities by promoting production and consumption of high quality foods, such as fortified foods with micronutrients, diverse nutrient dense vegetables and fruits and animal source foods; and

• To promote sustainable access to evidence-based maternal and child nutrition interventions.

Members of the media are hereby invited to attend:

1.     The Technical seminar: 27th October 2011

Time: 09:00 am – 5:00 pm

Speakers will include Food and Nutrition experts from within South Africa and across the continent.

2.     The High level official Commemoration: 28th October 2011

Time: 09:00am-1pm (Keynote Address by Hon. Aaron Motsoaledi)

For more information and to schedule interviews, please contact:

NEPAD Agency: Millicent Seganoe:millicents@nepad.org   +27 (0) 11 256 3615 www.nepad.org / www.nepad-caadp.net