Michael Johanns, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, will discuss the safety of the U.S. food supply, Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 5:30 p.m., at the downtown St. Louis Old Post Office Building, 3rd floor Missouri  Courtroom of Appeals. The event is free and open to the public, and  is part of the Gov. Bob Holden Public Policy Forum Issues of the 21st  Century speaker series. A question-and-answer session will follow.“As our world becomes flatter and we see a rise in trade among  nations, safety is a very important issue,” Gov. Holden said. “I’m thrilled to have such an expert come speak to our students and the  St. Louis community.” As Secretary of Agriculture, Johanns worked with the nation’s trading partners to re-open foreign markets to U.S. beef.  To improve access to new markets, he participated in World Trade Organization negotiations and promoted the successful passage of the U.S. Central America Free Trade Agreement.  This agreement broadened trade markets for both U.S. and foreign farmers, increased protections for U.S. investors in Central America and increased the labor rights of agricultural workers.

Johanns grew up on a dairy farm and was elected Nebraska governor in 1998 and re-elected in 2002.  In 2005, he was sworn in as the 28th  secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and resigned in  September of 2007 to launch his U.S. Senate campaign.

To arrange an interview with former secretary Johanns, contact  Christine Wells Eason, director of media relations, Webster University Office of Public Affairs, at 314-968-5976 or eason@webster.edu.

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The Holden Public Policy Forum at Webster University is a bi-partisan  speaker series, created by former Missouri Governor Bob Holden and  Webster University President Richard S. Meyers that bring public  policy leaders to St. Louis to discuss key national and international  issues. The Forum is based at Webster University’s downtown Old Post Office Building campus. For more information about the Holden Public  Policy Forum, visit www.webster.edu/holdenppf or call 314-968-7423.  Webster University is a nonprofit, international university, based in St. Louis, Missouri, with a worldwide network of more than 100  campuses across the United States, Europe and Asia.