Seventh Global Forum For Innovations In Agriculture To Take Place In Abu Dhabi - March 2020

The Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA), the largest conference and exhibition in the Middle East dedicated to sustainable agricultural solutions returns to Abu Dhabi from the 9-10 March 2020 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). Held under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of UAE, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADFSA). The seventh edition will focus on six key areas: Indoor Farming and Hydroponics; Sustainable Crops: Livestock and Animal Production; Date Palm Production; and Aquaculture to drive progress in sustainable agriculture towards increasing food production and ensuring food security in the Middle East and North Africa.

For the first time, GIFA will be co-located alongside Cold Chain Expo, the first event dedicated to refrigeration technology and services specifically created for the food and agriculture sector. Gulf countries alone import US$53.1 billion of food annually making effective refrigeration and ensuring a sophisticated cold chain infrastructure is critical in keeping food fresh, safe and ensuring the minimization of waste. GFIA 2020 is co-located with VIV MEA the largest exhibition in the region dedicated to solutions for poultry production and for the third consecutive year ApiArab Expo the only internationally-focused professional apiculture event across the whole of the MENA region which will host a major symposium coordinated by ApiMondia the International Federation of Beekeepers’ Association.

HE Saeed Al Bahri Salem Al Ameri, Director General of Abu Dhabi Agriculture & Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) said: “The Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture plays a pivotal role in enhancing food security in the UAE and advancing its ambitious strategy to be ranked first in the world in the Global Food Security Index by 2051, as well as encouraging innovative agricultural solutions and supporting endeavors to reach the country.”

“The support provided by His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of UAE, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority for the forum and the exhibition has multiplied its successes from one edition to another. The success of the forum establishes Abu Dhabi's position as a global destination for agricultural technologies utilized in the desert environment and innovations for soil and water challenges and climate change. It is an opportunity for global companies and creative innovators to benefit from government initiatives and incentives, the most important of which is the Abu Dhabi Investment Office's initiative to approve one billion dirhams within the Abu Dhabi Government Accelerator’s Program "Tomorrow 21" to attract international agricultural technology companies.”

“Adopting solutions and technologies necessary to rationalize the consumption of natural resources, improve productivity, raise the efficiency of supply chains, and prepare for the challenges of climate change, is a great priority for food producers in the region. The forum represents one of the most prominent innovation drivers in this sector, because it provides an ideal umbrella for discussion and exchange of views in order to find solutions that help the region in enhancing agricultural productivity and the discovery of products that contribute to improving crops, controlling pests, increasing profits, rationalizing water consumption, and overcoming environmental challenge such as climate change, soil salinity and water scarcity. The inauguration of the Cold Chain exhibition is a strategic step in efforts to support innovations throughout the value chain from the product to the consumer, which will support future and sustainable food security in the Emirates and across the region.”

He concluded: “The third edition of ApiArab Expo is also a reflection of the great success of the event in supporting the strategic efforts by Abu Dhabi Agriculture & Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) to increase honey production in the UAE, and to encouraging beekeepers across the MENA region to expand on additional revenue streams and develop the sophistication of extend their operations sustainably. With over 1,200,000 hives in the UAE and Saudi Arabia alone, billions of bees imported into the region and tens of 1000s of tones of honey produced by Gulf countries annually the opportunities for sector growth are of great importance to the region.  This year we will look forward to welcoming over 2,000 academics, experts, innovators in the sector from around the world to network and exchange knowledge with two days of high-level presentations, exhibitors and workshops at this year’s expanded Apimondia Symposium, organized by the International Federation of Beekeepers Associations.”

GFIA provides a unique opportunity to showcase products to over 18,000 accomplished and forward-thinking food producers, policymakers and investors in the MENA region. The GFIA conference will witness a line-up of high-calibre and innovative speakers and offer thousands of visitors a powerful mix of keynote addresses, panel debates, innovation presentations and Q&A sessions.

For further information, speaking opportunities and registration visit:

www.innovationsinagriculture.com or www.coldchainmeexpo.com

or www.apiarabexpo.com