A dedicated conference on 'Building Resilience in Urban Agriculture' will feature on the agenda of the upcoming Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture conference (GFIA 2015) in Abu Dhabi, strategic partners  Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) announced today.

ADFCA will convene the event in partnership with some of the world's most innovative organisations, including the RUAF Foundation, Association for Vertical Farming, and the University of Arizona. As part of this, industry experts will convene to outline a high-level Urban Agriculture Strategy for the Abu Dhabi Capital City District. Ready with market and city spatial data, participants will examine the potential application of the full range of urban agriculture typologies to understand Abu Dhabi's fresh produce productive potential, evaluating risks and compatibility with its urban fabric.

The conference will serve as a crucial platform to review the demands arising out of the anticipated surge in population to nine billion people by the year 2050. More specifically, panelists will examine the impact of challenges such as climate change, dwindling natural resources, and urbanisation on people's need for safe, nutritious food.

Comprising keynotes, workshops and panel discussions, the conference will address topics such as the creation of successful urban food-systems, technologies driving the growth and sustainability of urban agriculture, and how the best and brightest minds of the next generation could be encouraged to focus their energy and passion on feeding the world.

Hans Hassle, CEO Plantagon, a speaker at the conference, said: "With more than 70% of the world's population expected to live in cities by 2050, it is critical that urban environments start to develop their own sources of food to avoid severe food insecurities associated with water shortages, land degradation and climate change. Through our participation at the dedicated conference at GFIA 2015, we look forward to exploring solutions that the world can adopt for addressing this gap and prepare for the future."

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, the second edition of GFIA will run from 9-11 March in Abu Dhabi in strategic partnership with ADFCA.

In addition to the conference on urban agriculture, GFIA 2015 will host the inaugural 'Global Climate-Smart Agriculture Summit', the largest presentation of sustainable agriculture solutions in the world. An international exhibition hosting 250 suppliers of sustainable agriculture technology will also serve as a highlight of the event.

GFIA is sponsored by the Food Security Centre – Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Farmers Services Centre, Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Exeed Industries, Al Dhara and the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce & Industry. Organised with official support from the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water, GFIA 2015 will include a keynote speech by His Excellency Dr Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad, UAE Minister of Environment and Water.

Find out more about GFIA at www.innovationsinagriculture.com, join the LinkedIn group 'Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture Network', follow GFIA on twitter @GFIA2015, or visit the Future Agriculture web portal at www.FutureAgriculture.info.