INTERNATIONAL INNOVATIONS IN AGRICULTURE TO PROMOTE FOOD SECURITY IN THE UAE

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Workers checking Eggplant in Al Bustan Farms at Al Ain on 27 JUNE 2017. Photo: Atiq ur Rehman/Gulf News
  • World’s leading agriculture innovations to be showcased at GFIA to drive the future of food security in the UAE and across MENA
  •  GFIA Innovation Awards announced to recognize enterprises and businesses that will shape the future of farming and food production around the world

 Abu Dhabi, UAE: The world’s leading agriculture innovations will be showcased in Abu Dhabi from 1 to 2 April 2019 at the Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA) at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). GFIA, the global authority on sustainable food production will present leading-edge solutions that will shape the future of farming and food production in the UAE and around the world.

GFIA is supported by Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, endorsed by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and supported by H.E Minister of State for Food Security, as part of the UAE’s drive to encourage the adoption of new technologies in the agricultural sector and advancement of facilitating global agribusiness trade in the nation for future food security. GFIA includes a high-profile selection of essential vertical farming innovations and solutions for the region that provide sustainable-technology for domestic food supply for food producers across the UAE and MENA who are under pressure to save natural resources, improve productivity, increase the efficiency of their supply chains and be ready to meet the challenges of climate change.

Thamer Rashed Al Qasemi, Chairman of GFIA Organising Committee, said: “Enhancing facilitation for agribusiness and sustainable and efficient ways of food production is a key objective of GFIA which provides a significantly important role in bringing together world leaders in innovation here to Abu Dhabi to drive advancement for our agricultural sector. Innovators from the Europe, Australia, USA and the world will be showcasing new technologies and leading-edge solutions across indoor farming and hydroponics, livestock and animal production, date palm production, aqua tech, aquaponics, aquaculture, sustainable crops, and apiculture. In recognition of these global leaders of innovation in Abu Dhabi, we will hold the annual GFIA Innovation Awards which provide industry-leading recognition for businesses.”

HBJB Lighting, world leaders in lighting development from Germany, will show their LED module specifically designed for use in the vertical farms to maximize efficiency and yield of crops within controlled environments. Netled from Finland will demonstrate their unique turnkey vertical farm solution, an advanced high-volume vertical farming solution with comprehensive automatic functions that provide a turnkey solution for high volume crop production Vera® which also saves 95% of fresh water.

A sustainable crop enhancement solution will be presented by Goshka from Poland with their organic and mineral soil improvers, which they are in the final stages of production, and will significantly increase the efficiencies of crops, increase profits with care for the environment. Levity Crop Science from the UK will present Indra, a product that helps crops withstand stress salinity, temperature extremeness and high UV which can reverse yield loss.

Innovations for livestock and animal production will be presented by Greengage from the UK showcasing their range of LED lights, sensors, software and data analytics to make poultry farming smarter, easier and greener. Faromatics from Spain will present ChickenBoy an autonomous, smart broiler robot farmer assistance for animal welfare and farm productivity. Aqua BioTech will showcase aqua tech developments from Malta with their VicInAqua project which is developing innovative multipurpose self-cleaning water filtration solutions to deliver sustainable water used in recirculating aquaculture systems.

The GFIA Innovation Awards, which are open for applications, will recognize innovations which will improve global security for the best innovations in the categories of animal production; aquaculture, crop production, date plan production and most innovative start-up.

Presented here are highlights of companies from over 100 countries who will exhibit their products and projects promoting sustainable food production to more than 8,000 visitors expected to attend the two-day conference and exhibition. 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.  Abu Dhabi Farmer’s Service Centre provide strategic sponsorship for GFIA, supported by Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry and knowledge partner King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.

Registration is now open for those interested in attending the forum and conference programme which is free to participate in via www.innovationsinagriculture.com.