Michael Latham, M.D., professor emeritus and graduate school professor of nutritional sciences, will deliver the keynote address, "Perspectives on Nutritional Problems in Developing Countries: Nutritional Security Through Community Agriculture," at an international symposium sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

The International Symposium on Food and Nutrition Security: Food-Based Approaches for Improving Diets and Raising Levels of Nutrition, held in Rome, Italy, at the headquarters of the Food and Agricultural Organization Dec. 7-9, is intended to increase awareness of the benefits of nutrition-sensitive, food-based approaches to improve diets and raise levels of nutrition.

In addition to papers presented by leading experts, participants intend to identify opportunities and challenges to promote food-based approaches and for enhancing and monitoring their impact on food and nutrition in terms of food quality and safety, food consumption and diets, and nutritional outcomes.

The event will serve as the basis for future dialogues and facilitate wider support for an international movement to implement effective and long-term solutions to hunger and malnutrition.

Latham was director of Cornell's Program in International Nutrition for 25 years and remains active in the Division of Nutritional Sciences.