The UAE hosts a meeting of the Council of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
ABU DHABI, 12 December, 2017 (WAM) – On 10 and 11 December, in the capital, Abu Dhabi, the UAE hosted the first meetings of the Council of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) in the Arabian Gulf region.
The twenty-third meeting of the system’s Council witnessed the participation of an elite group of donors, scientists and policy makers from around the world, who gathered in Abu Dhabi to discuss the most prominent challenges facing the global food system.
As the first country in the Gulf region to join the Council as a donor, the UAE is benefiting from this strategic partnership to launch a global artificial intelligence system dedicated to agricultural innovation, concerned with linking advanced research and technologies with practical applications that create a real, tangible impact on farmers with small lands around the world.
Her Excellency Maryam bint Mohammed Al Muhairi, Head of the Office of International Affairs at the Presidential Office and CEO of 2PointZero Group, said: “The holding of the first meeting of the Council of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) in the Gulf region represents an important historical milestone. Through this hosting, the UAE brings together the world’s elite experts in the fields of policy, science and technology, to accelerate the path of international cooperation in the field of developing global food systems. Based on our national artificial intelligence system, we will work to transform technical innovations into practical solutions. It supports farmers around the world, ensures progress for all, and builds a more secure future for all.”
For her part, Asmahan El-Wafi, Executive Director of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, said: “The launch of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) represents a true embodiment of the power of solidarity and a shared vision. The complex challenges we face today in terms of food and climate cannot be solved by any country alone. Strategic partnerships, such as our partnership with the United Arab Emirates, play a pivotal role in accelerating the pace of innovations that combat poverty and preserve the integrity of our planet. It gives millions of people a lifeline from the clutches of hunger.”
The Council of the System constitutes the highest strategic decision-making body in the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), and its primary mission is to review its mission, strategy and impact, chart its strategic directions, and ensure an effective global partnership capable of responding to the growing need for agricultural research for development.
Holding the meeting in Abu Dhabi represents an ideal opportunity to highlight the transformative role played by the artificial intelligence ecosystem for the agricultural sector, which was launched this week and includes four main initiatives under its umbrella: the Artificial Intelligence Center of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the Institute of Agriculture and Artificial Intelligence at the Mohammed bin Zayed University for Artificial Intelligence, the AgriLLM model, and the AIM for Scale initiative. The system integrates research, technology and global cooperation to accelerate positive impact for farmers around the world.
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