More than 300 next-generation agricultural solutions that could shape the future of sustainable farming around the world are set to be featured at an exhibition and conference in Abu Dhabi next year.

The second edition of the Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA) will run from March 9 to 11 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

It will be held under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) and in strategic partnership with the ADFCA.

With global policy makers and scientists tasked with identifying innovative ways to feed a population of more than nine billion people by 2050, GFIA will aim to accelerate the development of solutions that meet the world’s pressing challenges.

GFIA will 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.

Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, chairman of the organising committee, said: “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.

“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. We look forward to welcoming some of the world’s leading experts in this field.”

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.

Climate-Smart Agriculture is a strategic farming approach designed to raise agricultural productivity whilst mitigating the effects of climate change.

The alliance includes more than 20 governments, 30 organisations and companies including the World Bank, The Netherlands government, and the Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

It represents millions of farmers, at least a quarter of the world cereal production, 43 million undernourished people and 16 percent of the total agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.

“GFIA is unique in that it attracts all the players – from across the full food value chain – needed to effect real change in the way we feed the world,” said Al Rayssi.

“From policy-makers and governments to food producers, commercial organisations, 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.”

The event will also include the newly-launched ‘Hosted Scientist Programme’ an initiative that will assemble 300 of the world’s leading scientists in Abu Dhabi, to establish a scientific crucible for discussion, knowledge sharing and the advancement of research.

A ‘Research & Collaboration Zone’ will allow academics from across the developed and developing world to meet, share knowledge, collaborate, and network with investors to  commercialise breakthrough ideas.

In addition, the GFIA conferences – featuring 250 speakers – will address a range of key issues critical to the future of global agriculture and food production.

It will include solutions for the reduction of post-harvest losses and food waste; ICT in agriculture: how ICT can promote sustainable and climate resilient agriculture; land restoration and agroforestry: restoration of the world’s degraded arable land; non-conventional water use and agriculture in arid climates; edible cities: growing the food where the majority of the world’s population lives; and workshops on aquaculture and indoor agriculture. - TradeArabia News Service