WASHINGTON, DC - Over the next three days more than 900 leaders and experts from agriculture and health will gather in New Delhi, India to amplify the important linkage between nutrition and agriculture in poverty reduction. The focus of the International Food Policy Research Institute's (IFPRI) 2020 Conference, "Leveraging Agriculture for Improving Nutrition and Health", reflects the emphasis of the international community's increased efforts to improve undernutrition, which is an essential component of the USG's Feed the Future and Global Health Initiatives.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said, "Nearly a billion people worldwide are suffering from hunger. 3.5 million children die every year because of under-nutrition. A crisis of this magnitude will be solved only through an intensive global effort that brings together governments, the private sector, NGOs, scientists, and citizens-all united to forge a comprehensive, coordinated strategy focused on the nexus of agriculture, health, and nutrition."

USAID's Deputy Coordinator for Development Feed the Future Ambassador William Garvelink, will lead the U.S. government delegation and will deliver remarks as part of the opening plenary discussion. He will also lead a discussion on the United Nation's Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Framework and 1,000 Days efforts to improve undernutrition in the critical 1,000 days between pregnancy and a child's second birthday. The SUN Framework has been endorsed by over 100 public and private stakeholders who aim to improve nutrition through increased advocacy and programming.

The United States is a proud partner in this global effort and is committed to supporting country-owned processes that integrate agriculture and nutrition for sustainable food security outcomes. "Our collective efforts to integrate agriculture and nutrition programs will contribute to healthier, more productive and resilient communities," Ambassador Garvelink said.

Feed the Future is working to improve agricultural productivity, promote market development, facilitate trade expansion, invest in global innovation and research, promote equitable rural economic growth, and address child malnutrition in food-insecure countries. Global Health Initiative helps partner countries improve health outcomes through strengthened health systems. It places a particular focus on improving the health of women, newborns and children through programs that address infectious disease, nutrition, maternal and child health, and safe water.

For more information visit www.feedthefuture.gov and www.usaid.gov.