The Food and Agriculture Policy Summit, co-hosted by Farm Foundation and Farm Journal Media this week is focusing on the wide range of domestic and global issues facing the food system and agriculture today, including biofuels.

The summit kicks off today with the Farm Journal Forum on “What Will Change Bring? Impacts of a New Congress and Administration in the New Era of Agriculture” which continues through Wednesday. The keynote speaker for that event will be POET CEO Jeff Broin who will discuss the potential for ethanol production amid changes in Congress and the new administration of President-elect Barack Obama.

Wednesday afternoon will be a joint event between both Farm Journal and Farm Foundation – “A Conversation with the Secretaries. “We’ve invited all nine of the living past Secretaries of Agriculture to participate in a conversation to talk about what advice they might give a new secretary of agriculture and just what their perspectives are on the challenges we face today,” said Farm Foundation president Conklin. Almost all have agreed to either appear in person or provide a statement by video. They include Clifford Hardin (Nixon), Bob Bergland (Carter), John Block (Reagen), Clayton Yuetter (Bush 1), Mike Espy and Dan Glickman (Clinton) and Ann Veneman and Mike Johanns (Bush 2).

On Thursday, Farm Foundation will examine Agriculture’s Strategic Role in Feeding and Fueling a Growing World. “We will be releasing a report that looks at the challenge of the next 30 years with growing population and rising incomes around the world and the increasing demands being put on agriculture,” said Conklin.

Listen to my interview with Neil about the event here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/farm-foundation/summit-conklin.mp3]