Agricultural Experts Deliberate Future Of Sustainable Farming

Agricultural experts from the Abu Dhabi Farmers’ Services Centre at the third edition of Global Forums for Innovations in Agriculture spoke on topics unique to Abu Dhabi such as “hydroponics in the UAE” and ‘the impact of human food habits and behaviour on environmental resources’.

Delegates were also treated to a Technical Tour of a farm in Abu Dhabi’s Al Katem area, which contained a number of agricultural innovations, such as greenhouses, hydroponics, and Global GAP Certification, one of 110 farms in Abu Dhabi to achieve the prestigious title.

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, GFIA was aimed at harnessing global efforts to provide enough safe, nutritious food to an expanding population, and featured more than 300 next-generation agricultural solutions that could shape the future of sustainable farming around the world.

“As the leading government partner in the sustainable agricultural development sector of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi Farmers’ Services Centre is proud that we had an opportunity to share its knowledge, experience and technical findings with delegates from home and abroad, “ said Nasser Al Junabi, Acting Chief Executive Officer, ADFSC.

There are an estimated 7,600 greenhouses in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Many of these are low to medium technology, but thanks to developments such as the Khalifa Fund, farmers in Abu Dhabi are witnessing the construction of new medium to high-tech greenhouses that feature shading systems and temperature and humidity sensors, which monitor the conditions inside and automate processes to ensure ideal-growing conditions at all times.

Experts from ADFSC were also invited to take part in a breakaway workshop organised by the Khalifa Fund - also on the subject of protected agriculture - aimed at updating attendees about plans for beyond the Zaarie programme - expectation for the future: the long-term outlook and opportunities in UAE Hydroponics.

To cap off ADFSC’s involvement in the conference, late on the day two the Centre’s Dr Adnan Ibrahim Al Sammarraie, Consultant, supervising IPM projects joined in a thought provoking roundtable discussion on the impact of human food habits and behaviour on environmental resources were delegates discussed how the world could increase food production by up to 70 percent when the world population rises to nine billion by 2050.

Khoa Le

Source: gulftoday.ae