The second edition of the Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA) is set to take place in Abu Dhabi from 9-11 March 2015
Held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, and in strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA), the exhibition and conference will feature more than 300 next-generation agricultural solutions that could shape the future of sustainable farming around the world.
With global policy makers and scientists tasked with identifying innovative ways to feed a population of more than nine billion people by 2050, GFIA aims to accelerate the development of solutions that meet the world’s pressing challenges. The event is expected to bring together participants from the entire agricultural value-chain — from agribusiness and academia to policy and investment — to witness more than 400 presentations of game-changing ideas with the potential to fundamentally change the way food is produced, processed, stored, distributed and consumed.
“As the world looks to support sustainable economic and social development into the 21st century and beyond, the solutions we identify to our food and water security challenges today will define the future of our nations,” said Mohamed Jalal Al Rayssi, chairman of the organising committee, Director of Communication and Community Service at Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority.
“Furthermore, with climate-smart food production being a critical factor for the UAE and other water-constrained parts of the MENA region. Abu Dhabi is strongly committed to driving the global dialogue on food security and climate resilience and this event reinforces that commitment.”
The inaugural Global Climate-Smart Agriculture Summit will serve as key element of the 2015 event. The summit has been developed under the guidance of the Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture launched during the UN Climate Summit in New York in September 2014. Climate-Smart Agriculture is a strategic farming approach designed to raise agricultural productivity whilst mitigating the effects of climate change.
Mark Beaumont, GFIA’s project director, noted, “From policy-makers and governments to food producers, commercial organizations, bilateral and multilateral development agencies and investors, GFIA is a stage that helps actualise real progress. This harmonisation approach is essential if we are to meet the challenge of feeding a rapidly growing global population.”
