Sixth Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture to focus on Artificial Intelligence
The Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA), a leading exhibition on sustainable agricultural solutions returns to Abu Dhabi from the 1-2 April 2019 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 Food Control Authority; the sixth edition of GFIA will focus on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can drive progress in agriculture towards increasing food production and ensuring food security in the Middle East and North Africa.
Thamer Rashed Al Qasemi, Chairman of GFIA Organizing Committee, said, “GFIA is conceptualized on the belief that continuous innovation in agriculture is the only way to sustainably feed nine billion people by 2050. It is a driving force globally for innovation in the sector and an ideal platform to discuss and find solutions to the region’s need to increase agricultural productivity and find products that will help improve yields, combat pests, increase profits, save water and overcome environmental challenges such as climate change, soil salinity and water shortage.”
Al Qasemi noted that GFIA is dedicated to sustainable agriculture across all types of food production and this year’s event will incorporate five clearly defined exhibition zones: Indoor Farming and Hydroponics, Livestock and Animal Production, Date Palm Production, Aqua Tech, and Sustainable Crops. GFIA is co-located with the 2nd ApiArab Expo, 2nd Arab Beekeeping International Conference, and for the first time in the UAE, the 15th Asian Apicultural Association (AAA) Conference.
“Currently, water scarcity and the small proportion of arable land pose a significant challenge across the region; therefore, this year’s conference will expand on indoor farming and hydroponics innovations in addition to the fast-paced advancements in AI in agriculture. We are honored that ApiArab Expo will be co-located with the 15th Asian Apicultural Association (AAA) Conference, for the first time in the UAE,” added Al Qasemi.
With food producers in the region under pressure to adopt more solutions and techniques in order to save natural resources, improve productivity, increase the efficiency of their supply chains and be ready to meet the challenges of climate change, GFIA provides a unique opportunity to showcase products to 7,000 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. The Innovations Theatre will have fifty exciting innovators taking to the stage to showcase how their innovations will shape the future of farming and food production around the world. Furthermore, the GFIA Innovation Awards will recognize innovations that help to improve global food security and honour innovations across seven different categories across the region.
ApiArab Expo and the 2nd edition Arab Beekeeping International Conference organized by the Arab Beekeeping Association will take place from 1-3 April, as part of a strategic effort by the Abu Dhabi government to increase honey production in the UAE, and to encourage beekeepers across the MENA region to expand on additional revenue streams and develop the sophistication of existing operations.
Professor Ahmad Al Khazam Al Ghamdi, Chairman of Arab Beekeeping Organization; Founding Committee and Vice Chairman of Middle East and Arab World Chapter of International Federation of Beekeepers' Associations, said: “With 1,200,000 hives in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, billions of bees imported to the region each year, and tens of 1000s of tons of honey produced by Gulf countries, the opportunities within the sector is vast. The 2nd edition of ApiArab will bring together 1,000 technology suppliers, large honey producers and hobbyists for three days of networking and knowledge sharing to give regional beekeepers the tools to expand on additional revenue streams and extend their operations sustainably.”
GFIA strategic sponsorship is provided by Abu Dhabi Farmer’s Service Centre, silver sponsorship support by Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry and knowledge partner King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.
