Nebraska Secretary of State John Gale will host a conference to address the challenges of providing food and fuel to the surging world population.

The Heartland Transatlantic Conference on Food and Fuels will be held Oct. 16-18 in Lincoln. Diplomats from France, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic and Estonia are expected attend.

The conference will showcase Nebraska's agribusiness and focus on the state's role in meeting global demands for food and fuel.

Ronnie Green, the University of Nebraska's vice president for agriculture, will give the keynote address. Gov. Dave Heineman will also speak at the invitation-only event.