FAO Conference

Session Documents

The Conference

On the invitation of the United Nations Interim Commission on Food and Agriculture, representatives met in Quebec on 16 October 1945 to sign the Constitution of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, which provides for "a Conference of the Organization in which each Member Nation and Associate Member shall be represented by one delegate".

The purpose of the Conference as the supreme Governing Body of the Organization is to determine the policy and approve the budget of the Organization.

Amendment of the Constitution and General Rules of the Organization is the sole prerogative of the Conference. The Conference may also make recommendations to Member Nations concerning food and agriculture matters as well as to international organizations regarding any matter pertaining to the purposes of the Organization.

The Conference meets in regular Session every two years in June/July. It elects the Independent Chairperson of the Council at each Session and the Director-General of the Organization every four years.