Excerpts: The FAO-sponsored World Food Summit in November 1996 offers a timely occasion for all countries to reinforce their commitment to the achievement of global food security. The United States and Canada are prepared to support the efforts of those developing countries that are putting in place the necessary political, economic, legal, and social frameworks needed to improve food security. The FAO Committee on World Food Security expressed its wish to benefit from the perspectives of the regions on the major issues, policies, and actions for attaining regional and global food security, as a contribution to the World Food Summit draft Policy Declaration and Plan of Action. The purpose of this paper is to stimulate discussions on food security and to provide a substantive contribution to the World Food Summit Global Plan of Action.