Press release – for immediate distribution

AQUACULTURE TECHNOLOGY TO BE HIGHLIGHTED AT GFIA 2015

Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture to highlight aquaculture as priority area of focus

Abu Dhabi, UAE, April 30 2014: Global companies with expertise in aquaculture are to be presented with a

major opportunity to showcase their expertise in the United Arab Emirates in March 2015.

The 2nd Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA), the world’s largest showcase of game-changing

innovations in sustainable agriculture, is to be held in Abu Dhabi from March 9-11th 2015, under the theme

‘Driving Innovation for an Agricultural Revolution.’

The world will have to feed 9 billion people by 2050. To do so will require a wave of innovations and new

technologies that will drive the future of global agriculture. GFIA helps address this challenge.

“The advances in aquaculture technologies and the efficiency with which aquaculture can produce high

volumes of protein make aquaculture companies ideal partners for an event like the Global Forum for

Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA),” said Mark Beaumont, GFIA Project Director.

GFIA’s focus is on sustainable technologies in farming and the impact such technologies have for arid and

semi arid regions. Open water and land-based aquaculture systems, aquaculture ICT solutions, aquatic

feeds and fish handling systems are all of major importance to the event.

It may come as a surprise to many that more than US$15 billion worth of aquaculture projects are planned

in the GCC alone of the coming decade. With the competing pressures for water resources in the region,

magnified by the local climate, new technology is essential to ensure the success of these projects.

“The local and regional marketplace for aquaculture companies in the Middle East is vast,” said Beaumont.

“There is increasing demand for protein, with growing per-capita seafood consumption across the region.

To support this, the 2nd Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA) will include a dedicated

aquaculture pavilion, which will be supported by a major aquaculture focus in the conference that will bring

together some of the leading lights from the international aquaculture community. In addition, a number of

round-table discussions are planned with a focus on aquaculture-related topics”

The Aquaculture Pavilion will include exhibitors with the following products and services:

• Aquaculture systems

• Health management and disease control applications

• Aquaculture facility management services

• Supplies and equipment

• Environmentally friendly and efficient aquatic feeds

• Processing and packaging equipment

This is an ideal opportunity for anyone involved in, or thinking of entering the aquaculture sector in the

MENA region to gather intelligence.

Aquaculture technology and consultancy companies exhibiting at GFIA will meet and engage with public

and private sector buyers; end users, farmers, systems integrators, major project stakeholders, large retail

chain food producers, investors, distribution agents with the capacity to carry their products into regions

they would not normally have access too, heads of major farming groups and others.

GFIA is the world’s most important dedicated event for sustainable agriculture. It has official support from

the UAE’s Ministry of Environment and Water and Ministry of Presidential Affairs, CGIAR and, in specific

areas, from the Food & Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

GFIA is led and sponsored by the UAE Government, with Turret Media, organisers of GFIA, working directly

with the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, under the Patronage of H.H Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al-

Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE.

Aquaculture companies wishing to take up space or to enquire about GFIA should contact Gareth Lott,

Australia and New Zealand representative of GFIA, on g.lott@turretme.com or by calling +61 404 887 666

-ENDS- About GFIA Held March 9-11, 2015, under the Patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nayhan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs of the UAE, the Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA) is the world’s largest showcase of innovations in sustainable agriculture. With the key theme of ‘driving innovation for an agricultural revolution,’ GFIA highlights the sustainable agriculture initiatives being planned and deployed around the world, facilitates knowledge transfer and demonstrates available investment opportunities. The GFIA agenda has been designed by a steering committee of 20 international experts in the fields of academia, R&D, science, industry and investment. The GFIA programme includes:

• Exhibition and conference: keynote sessions, panel discussions, an African Ministerial debate and 150 presentations.

• Incubator zone. • Innovation Zone (curated by the University of Arizona): display of working models of some of the most

inspiring innovations in agriculture today. • 10 Country Pavilions. • Technical tours to a range of sustainable agriculture projects in the UAE, including the world’s biggest caviar

farm. • GCC Farmer Focus: a dedicated programme to educate GCC farmers on the benefits of sustainable agriculture • NGO Zone: dedicated area for NGOs, development agencies and charitable foundations to meet and share

ideas across sectors GFIA will be held in strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, with the University of Arizona as Knowledge Partner.