The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, is in Italy to take part in
the biennial conference of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). During her
outreach, she will also work with stakeholders to advance Canadian agriculture and agri-food trade,
and promote the safety and quality of Canadian exports.
Minister Bibeau is expected to be formally elected as Chair of the FAO conference on its first day.
Minister Bibeau will be the first female agriculture minister to be in the role, and the first Canadian to
chair since 1997. The Chair presides over the gathering of the full membership of the FAO, facilitating
the exchange of views among all members as they work together towards global food security and the
UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The full FAO membership convenes every two years. This year’s theme is water resource
management, and the conference is taking place in Rome, from July 1-7.
While in Italy, Minister Bibeau will also take the opportunity to discuss Canadian agricultural
opportunities with Italian agri-food stakeholders, including the mutual benefits of the CanadaEuropean Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). She will host a roundtable
discussion with female leaders in agriculture and agri-food from around the world, meet with Canadian
industry associations, and meet Italian businesses who use Canadian agriculture and agri-food
products.
There will be opportunities on the margins of the FAO for Minister Bibeau to meet with counterparts
from numerous other countries as well as with FAO officials to help push progress on global food
security, enhance bilateral relations and trade opportunities, while working to resolve trade issues.
(Government of Canada news release)
