World Food Day helps raise food, awareness of climate issues on food supply

<p class="style1">MESA, Ariz. — Arizona State University’s Morrison School of Management and Agribusiness and United Food Bank are helping educate others on the impact climate change can have on the food supply by hosting World Food Day’s “Climate: Change, Challenges, Consequences” live broadcast, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., Oct. 16, in the Student Union Cooley Ballroom C, at ASU’s Polytechnic campus.</p><separator></separator><p>The 24th annual World Food Day Teleconference is sponsored by the U.S. National Committee for World Food Day, a coalition of 450 private voluntary organizations. The program is broadcast worldwide and is received by hundreds of North American university sites.</p><separator></separator><p>The free one-hour live broadcast panel discussion includes three eminent climate specialists:</p><separator></separator><p>Suzanne Hunt, an independent consultant, was the team leader of the WorldWatch Institute’s landmark report, Agriculture and Energy in the 21st Century. She writes and lectures widely on energy and biofuel issues at such organizations as the World Bank, the UN and on Capitol Hill. Ms. Hunt has extensive environmental research, policy, education and planning experience.</p><separator></separator><p>Dr. Cynthia Rosenzweig is a senior research scientist and leader of the Climate Impacts Group at the NASA Goddard Institute; She is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Environmental Science at Columbia University, and a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy. Her primary research involves the development of interdisciplinary methodologies by which to assess the potential impacts and adaptations to global environmental change.</p><separator></separator><p>Stephen Schneider is a professor at Stanford University’s Department of Biological Sciences and Co-Director of the Center for Environmental Science and Policy. He is actively involved with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as a lead research author and member of the writing team for the Fourth Assessment Report. Dr. Schneider was honored in the 1992 with a MacArthur Fellowship for his ability to integrate and interpret global climate research.</p><separator></separator><p>The broadcast program will be hosted by Ray Suarez, a senior correspondent for the Jim Lehrer NewsHour. In addition, there will be a short video greeting by Jacques Diouf, director general of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and a brief live interview with Purdue University Professor Philip Nelson, the 2007 World Food Prize laureate on the occasion of his award at ceremonies in Des Moines, Iowa.</p><separator></separator><p>In addition, Morrison School and United Food Bank will hold a food drive of non-perishable items from Oct. 8 – 19. Containers will be available in the Student Union located ASU’s Polytechnic campus.</p><separator></separator><p>This World Food Day broadcast and food drive is open to the public.</p><separator></separator><p>World Food Day began in 1981 to mark the founding of the United Nations FAO headquartered in Rome. The day is celebrated in more than 150 countries, the UN and FAO headquarters. World Food Day is considered one of the most internationally observed “days” in the UN calendar.</p><separator></separator><p>For further information about World Food Day, visit the Web site at <a href="http://www.worldfooddayusa.org/">www.worldfooddayusa.org</a>.</p&gt;