12 November 1977, Rome, Italy - General view of rostrum and Plenary Hall. Lead caption: OPENING OF THE NINETEENTH SESSION OF THE FAO CONFERENCE, Rome 1977. The Nineteenth Session of the FAO Conference opened at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization on 12 November and closed on 1 December. The Conference, supreme governing authority of FAO, consists of delegates from the 136 Member Nations. It meets biennially to review and approve the Director-General's Programme of Work and Budget for the ensuing biennium, to admit new Member Nations, to review the world food agriculture situation and decide upon the necessary action.