What is the GFFA?

The GFFA is an international political event focussing on central issues regarding the future of the global agri-food industry. It is held for the fifth time in this form during the International Green Week (IGW).

It unites politics, science and industry in a platform facilitating an exchange and political understanding on a chosen topical agricultural policy issue.

The events

The GFFA panel discussion held in public is a discussion round hosted by the BMELV and bringing together representatives from politics, industry, the civil society and science as well as approximately 1,400 international guests.

In 2013, too, the Berlin Summit of Agriculture Ministers, which is not held in public, takes place in the Weltsaal of the Federal Foreign Office.  It unites political decision-makers from all continents to discuss agricultural policy issues of the future.  There are pivotal questions and problems on the agenda, which are not only relevant for the global agricultural policy, but also for industry.  A final communiqué of the summit formulates the common position of the Agriculture Ministers and is incorporated into the ongoing international debate on agricultural policy.

At invitation of the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV), the internatonal organisations the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will, for the first time, hold public working meetings. The results will be incorporated into the subsequent Agriculture Ministers´ Summit, the International GFFA Panel Discussion and the International Business Panel Discussion.

Expert panels hosted by many different organisers allow for a more thorough analysis of the annual key topic of the GFFA under specific thematic and regional aspects.  This way they create a close link of the GFFA to the current scientific debate.

The International Business Panel Discussion and the subsequent evening reception hosted by the German agri-food industry will provide all participants with a further opportunity to meet and engage in an intensive exchange of views.

The organisers

The GFFA organisers include the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV), the Senate of Berlin and the Messe Berlin GmbH.

The „Global Forum for Food and Agriculture Berlin e.V.“ is the sponsoring organization of German agri-food industry. The founding members are the Federation of German Food and Drink Industries (BVE), the German Farmers' Union (DBV), the German Agricultural Society, the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations (OA).

The GFFA also lives from many other organisers, who make an essential contribution to the success of the GFFA by participating in the matchmaking session or the poster exhibition.