The Food and Agriculture Sector and Government Coordinating Councils' joint quarterly meeting will be held September 21-22 in conjunction with the International Dairy Show in Atlanta. The two-day meeting will feature a discussion of the California Dairy Regional Resiliency Assessment Program, the latest on the development of a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine, updates from the National Institute of Hometown Security on food and agriculture initiatives and food defense research. The identification and prioritization of critical infrastructures of the food and agriculture sector and other informative topics will also be discussed.

IDFA has played a critical role in the Food and Agricultural Sector Coordinating Council, a presidentially mandated partnership between government and the private sector, since its formation by the Department of Homeland Security eight years ago. Clay Detlefsen, IDFA vice president of regulatory affairs and counsel, is the council co-chair.

"The partnership between government and critical infrastructure/key resource (CIKR) owners and operators provides a forum in which they can engage in a broad spectrum of activities to support and coordinate critical infrastructure protection," Detlefsen said.

Food processor meeting attendees can receive a free pass to the International Dairy Show exhibit floor. Simply contact Detlefsen at cdetlefsen@idfa.org to learn more about the meeting and register. Advance registration for the quarterly meeting is required.

Government officials and academic representatives attending this meeting also may register for a free floor pass for the International Dairy Show, September 19-21, using the code IDS11FREE.