The Fourth McGill Conference on Global Food Security will be held on October 4-6, 2011. The theme of this year's Conference is Risks and Threats to Food Security.

International and national participants at this three-day conference will include high-ranking decision-makers, academics, students, representatives of government, the private sector, international agencies, and civil society.

Through plenary sessions and cross-sectoral dialogue, the annual Conference will produce concrete outcomes that will lead to improving the availability of a secure and safe food supply for people suffering from hunger and malnutrition around the world.

It is evident that the gains made in food production over the past few years are now rapidly eroding due to higher global food prices (37% higher, on average, than one year ago), rising food price volatility, increased energy costs, reduced crop yields due to recent natural disasters in many parts of the world, and political instability in some regions.

These risks and threats to food security are most serious in countries that depend heavily on food imports to meet the nutritional needs of their populations, and where food producers are faced with rising costs of production and limited access to markets. The 500-million small-farmers in developing countries who support almost 2-billion people - or one third of the world's population - continue to be severely affected by these risks and threats.

Climate change, competition for land and water resources, and energy demands are further threatening the security of the food system. Impacts of the so-called "land grabs" and debate over biofuel policies will be addressed at the Conference.

Food safety, another risk to food security, particularly in developing countries, will be highlighted at the Conference, within the overall scope of public health, food system policies, international safety regulations, market standards and trade agreements, and ultimately access to markets.

The Conference will also emphasize sustainable practices being implemented in various countries to achieve food and nutritional security at the village or community level.

The Fourth McGill Conference on Global Food Security will start on the evening of Tuesday October 4th with a Public Lecture Forum by a leading international dignitary, followed by two days of conference sessions.

This is an exceptional opportunity to be part of a high level, well recognized and well established international event on global food security.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

- PLEASE PRINT THE REGISTRATION CONFIRMATION EMAIL AND BRING IT WITH YOU TO THE EVENT
- THOSE WHO WISH TO ATTEND BOTH EVENTS (PUBLIC LECTURE FORUM AND CONFERENCE) MUST REGISTER FOR EACH EVENT SEPARATELY
- REGISTRATION FEE INCLUDES CONFERENCE SESSIONS, LUNCHES, BREAKS AND NETWORKING COCKTAIL
- PLEASE INDICATE YOUR CHOICE OF MEAL (REGULAR OR VEGETARIAN)