The seventh session of the FAO South West Pacific Ministers of Agriculture meeting will be held at the Marshall Islands Resort Hotel, in Majuro from 29 to 31 May 2007. This major biennial event is convened by FAO to review and make recommendations on key food and agricultural issues affecting the Pacific region.

The conference brings together 14 Pacific nations and a wide range of observers such as representatives of Pacific intergovernmental bodies, United Nations organizations, donors and other development partners.

Participants include ministers of agriculture from countries in the region, senior government officials, the FAO director-general as well as representatives of civil society and the business sector.

In-depth discussions will be held on diverse food security needs and challenges in the region: plant production and protection; forestry; fisheries; agri-business and rural development. Also nutrition and food safety concerns will be addressed as well as the need to ensure that trade benefits security, and making agriculture mitigate the impact of climate change on Pacific countries.

A prominent guest speaker will give a presentation on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the Pacific. FAO, 17/05/07.