Global Forum for Food and Agriculture 2026

The Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) is an international conference that promotes food security, sustainability and innovation in agriculture. The five-day forum offers an international audience of experts from politics, business, science and civil society the opportunity to exchange ideas and reach agreements on issues and challenges of global agricultural policy and food security. 

The 2026 GFFA will focus on the issue of water. Water is the basis of all life and of all economic activity. Access to clean water is also inextricably linked to the human right to adequate food. Today, there are already more than two billion people suffering from water stress. This stress is being further exacerbated by climate change, and by the overuse and pollution of water resources. Agriculture is severely affected by climate change and water stress. Agriculture is the world’s largest consumer of water, accounting for 72 percent of total use, which is why it plays a key role and can make a major contribution to finding a solution. A growing global population requires more food and potable water. At the same time, water reserves need to be preserved and increased. 

The international community has already put water resilience at the top of its global political agenda. The United Nations created momentum for the issue of water by hosting the landmark United Nations Water Conference in 2023. This momentum towards more commitment, efficiency and cooperation in water policies will be taken up by the 2026 GFFA. 

Four key topics relating to water will be discussed during the 2026 GFFA:

1. Using water sustainably
2. Strengthening the blue bioeconomy
3. Finding constructive solutions to competing uses
4. Strengthening international water governance

Aquatic Blue Food Coalition at the GFFA

Blue Foods and the Blue Bioeconomy: Pathways to Nutrition, Resilience, and Sustainability

16 January 2026 | 15:30 – 17:00 | City Cube, Berlin

The Aquatic Blue Food Coalition is hosting a session, Blue Foods and the Blue Bioeconomy: Pathways to Nutrition, Resilience, and Sustainability at GFFA on January 16, 2026 at 15:30-17:00.

This session will bring together leading experts, practitioners, and policymakers to explore both the untapped potential of aquatic foods and the complex challenges that must be overcome to scale them sustainably and equitably. By showcasing scientific evidence, real-world innovations, and policy pathways, the event aims to reposition aquatic foods as central to achieving food and nutrition security, enhancing ocean health, supporting livelihoods, and accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The session calls for aquatic foods to be integrated more fully into food systems planning, to both maximize their benefits and proactively manage their risks. By doing so, countries will be able to diversify food supply chains, reduce reliance on carbon-intensive agriculture, and increase resilience to climate shocks, contributing to a brighter future for global food and nutrition security.

Speakers for the panel will be announced closer to the event date.

Co-organisers: Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Blue Food Future Program, Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions, Oceana, UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Worldfish, Global Seaweed Coalition, Better Food Future, European Bureau for Conservation and Development (EBCD)