Ceremonial session at the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences dedicated to International Day of Women and Girls in Scince

  On February 11 of this year, a ceremonial session dedicated to the International Day of Women and Girls in Science was held at the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The session was attended by: President of the Academy, Academician Givi Japaridze, Chief Academician-Secretary of the Academy, Academician Aleksandre Didebulidze, Deputy President of the Academy, Academician Anatoly Giorgadze, Head of the Academic Department of the Academy, Dr. Marine Barvenashvili, Academician-Secretary of the Department of Agronomic Sciences of the Academy, Academician Gogola Margvelashvili, Academician-Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection and Forestry Sciences of the Academy, Academician Lasha Dolidze, Chief Specialist for Relations and Activities with International Organizations, Dr. Tinatin Epitashvili, Academy Leading Specialists: Ketevan Chipashvili, Larisa Chaika, Dali Tarkhnishvili, and Marika Mosashvili, as well as invited guests.  

The session was opened and the Academy's Chief Academician-Secretary, Academician Aleksandre Didebulidze, addressed the audience with a welcoming speech. He noted that according to UNESCO data, women make up only a third of the world's scientists. However, this number is growing, and international foundations and grants support their increased involvement in science. UNESCO believes that women are underrepresented in scientific research. Their share in the total number of scientists is 28%. Since the Nobel Prize in Science was established in 1901, women have won only 3% of the awards. That is why UNESCO established the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which is celebrated all over the world on February 11, as well as the International Award for Women Scientists. Unfortunately, the situation in Georgia is also unfavorable regarding the number of women working in science, especially in the agricultural sector.

 Academician-Secretary of the Department of Agronomic Sciences, Academician Gogola Margvelashvili, delivered a speech at the session. She warmly congratulated the women on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Then she recalled prominent Georgian women scientists: the first Georgian psychophysiologist working in Europe, the author of many fundamental works, the winner of numerous international awards, a member of the French Academy of Medicine, Barbara Kipiani, and one of the prominent representatives of agricultural sciences, Academician Ksenia Bakhtadze, a woman who brought universal recognition to Georgian tea. Academician G. Margvelashvili also spoke about his own path in science, and about the difficulties she had to overcome. It was noted that Academician G. Margvelashvili is considered the head of the Georgian scientific school for the development of theoretical and practical foundations for the effective use of phosphorus fertilizers in the main types of soils of Eastern Georgia. Under her leadership and scientific supervision, 17 candidates of sciences and 4 doctors of sciences successfully defended dissertations.

The head of the Academic Department of the Academy, Dr. Marina Barvenashvili, congratulated the women present in the hall on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. She wished each of them success, progress and new achievements.

Following the congratulations, the ceremony of awarding honorary certificates of the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences to female scientists working in the agricultural field was traditionally held.

The following were awarded honorary certificates of the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences:

- Doctor of Agricultural Sciences Manana Kevlishvili;

- Doctor of Chemical Sciences Mzia Ghagolishvili;

- Doctor of Food Technology Lali Elanidze;

- Doctor of Agriculture Darejan Jashi;

- Doctor of Agriculture Nunu Nakashidze;

- Doctor of Engineering Miranda Gorgiladze;

- Doctor of Chemistry Lia Aptsiauri;

- Doctor of Engineering Naira Mamardashvili;

- Doctor of Chemistry Ketevan Sarajishvili;

- Doctor of Chemistry Ketevan Beriashvili;

- Academic Doctor of Agricultural Sciences Natia Sukhishvili;

- Doctor of Food Technology Elene Sordia;

- Doctor of Food Technology Sophio Dzneladze;

- Doctor of Engineering Medea Ormotsadze;

- Doctor of Food Technology Lia Kotorashvili;

- Doctor of Ecology Maia Kukhaleishvili;

- Doctor of Biology Guliko Dvali;

- Doctor of Philology Teona Khupenia;

- Doctor of Geography Ketevan Lataria;

- Doctor of Engineering Marika Mikiashvili;

- Doctor of Agricultural Sciences Rusudan Dzidzishvili;

- Doctor of Agriculture Khatuna Doborjginidze.

The President of the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Academician Givi Japaridze, congratulated the female scientists on the “International Day of Women and Girls in Science” and on being awarded honorary certificates of the Academy. He introduced the invited guests to the scientific activities and structure of the Academy, spoke about the activities carried out within the framework of the memorandums of cooperation signed by the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences with scientific, educational and research institutions, both within the country and abroad. The President of the Academy, Mr. G. Japaridze, on behalf of the Academy, expressed his readiness for further cooperation with the female scientists of agriculture.

The following women who were awarded made speeches: Ms. Manana Kevlishvili, Ms. Rusudan Dzidzishvili, Ms. Lia Aptsiauri and Ms. Medea Ormotsadze. They thanked the leadership of the Academy for the due appreciation of their work.

Publication of an important scientific work

“Traditional Georgian Seasonal Culture and Modernity (Wheat)” was published by Georgian scientists.

TRADITIONAL GEORGIAN AGRICULTURE AND MODERNITY (WHEAT)

The aim of the volume is to once again focus attention on the socio-cultural importance of wheat and its products, to discuss the past and the future of

Georgian traditional agriculture. The research and analyses of these issues is useful for consideration of the contemporary challenges. We would like to present the issues of the ancient traditions and modern development of Georgian traditional culture, wheat production and bread baking. The work is intended for representatives of scientific circles and the general public.

Agrarian Innovations Commission

On December 18 of this year, a meeting of the Agrarian Innovations Commission under the Presidium of the Academy was held, at which the Deputy Director of the Rural Development Agency of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Natalia Kharatishvili, delivered a report entitled “Measures Related to the Entry into Force of the Law of Georgia: “On Agriculture and Rural Development” from January 1, 2025”. In her speech, the speaker emphasized the fact that the development of modern agriculture is impossible without the implementation of the right policy and appropriate supporting measures. Therefore, the role of the state and the right steps taken by it are of paramount importance. In turn, in order to develop the right policy, the state needs tools that will make it possible to have the right information and conduct appropriate analysis. One such tool is the improvement of the legislative framework, which, similar to the legislative practice in the EU member states, will regulate the organization of agriculture in Georgia, policy management and related issues.

The adoption of the Law of Georgia “On Agriculture and Rural Development” serves to establish general principles and requirements for determining agricultural and rural development policy. In particular, these are:

Establishment of the basic principles of agricultural and rural development policy management and the competencies of authorized agencies;

Regulation of existing legal relations in the field of agriculture and rural development;

Promotion of the development of the rural economy in agriculture and related activities;

Decision on a state support measures and facilitation of their implementation.

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The need to adopt the law is due to the fact that Georgia did not have a unified legislative framework document that would regulate the development of agriculture and rural areas, presenting a vision and goals for implementing policy in the field. In addition, the country has a strategic vision document, the Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy (2021–2027), which establishes the main vectors in this direction at the national level, although it is difficult to fully realize the goals stated in it without the existence of an appropriate legislative framework that fundamentally defines the role and scope of actions of the entities in the field.

As a result of the adoption of the Law, such important terms as: agricultural activity, rural development, farmer, farm, register of farms, and other, were defined at the legislative level, the state bodies/agencies responsible for the proper functioning of supportive measures were determined, and a legal basis was created for the establishment of support measures by the Paying Agency (the legal successor of the Rural Development Agency after its EU accreditation). Under the conditions of proper analysis and planning of agriculture, agricultural production will increase, the country's food security, and the economic and social situation for rural residents will improve. The register of farms will be functionally loaded, the majority of farmers will be registered, and the statistical data of the register will be used for policy planning and management.

The law is scheduled to come into force on January 1, 2025, except for Articles 10 (Paying Agency), 13 (Unified Electronic System for Integrated Administration and Control), 14 (Register of Farms and Rural Enterprises) and 15 (Data Exchange), which relate to obligations to be fulfilled at the executive level and will come into force on January 1, 2026.

The discussion held after the report was attended by the President of the Academy, Academician Givi Japaridze, Vice-President of the Academy, Academician Guram Aleksidze, Academicians: Nodar Chitanava and Aleksandre Didebulidze, Academy Fellow Mamuka Benashvili, representatives of the Ministry - Advisor to the Minister Dr. Omar Kacharava, Senior Professor of the Service Omar Tedoradze and Head of the Information and Consulting Service of the Sagarejo Municipality Dr. Nikoloz Javakhishvili, Professors: Medea Burjanadze and Anzor Meskhishvili, Doctors: Gocha Tsopurashvili and Ekaterine Katsitadze. The speaker gave comprehensive and competent answers to the questions posed. The members of the commission discussed the expected consequences of the law.

The commission approved the report and expressed full support for the measures envisaged by the law to transform the Rural Development Agency into a paying agency.

NEWS

The 5^th of December – The World Soil Day - An International Day for Soil Protection

            On December 5 of this year, a round table was organized by the Department of Agronomic Sciences of the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences under the motto: “Caring for Soils: Measurement, Monitoring and Management”, dedicated to the World Soil Day.

The round table was attended by: Vice-President of the Academy, Academician G. Aleksidze, Chief Academician-Secretary of the Academy, Academician A. Didebulidze, Head of the Academic Department of the Academy, Dr. M. Barvenashvili, Academician-Secretary of the Division of Agronomic Sciences of the Academy, Academician G. Margvelashvili, Academician-Secretary of the Division of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences of the Academy, Academician T. Kurashvili Academicians: N. Chkhartishvili, Z. Chankseliani, J. Gugushvili, employees of the Academy's staff, as well as the head of the laboratory of the Soil Fertility Research Service of the Agricultural Scientific Research Center, Dr. G. Gambashidze, and employees of the same service: M. Tarkhnishvili, T. Jolokhava, T. Meskhi, G. Ormotsadze, T. Tsetskhladze, G. Gventsadze.  

Academician G. Margvelashvili opened the round table, welcomed the audience and congratulated them on the significant date. He introduced the agenda to the audience, according to which the first report was: “Soil - our precious capital, life and well-being”, speaker: Acad. G. Margvelashvili, and the second report: “Evaluation of soil data in field and laboratory conditions”, speaker: Dr. G. Gambashidze.

Before making his report, Academician G. Margvelashvili reminded the audience of the history of the establishment of the International Day for Soil Conservation. That is, on December 20, 2013, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution, according to which December 5 of each year was declared the World Day for Soil Conservation. He also noted that this date is regularly celebrated at the Academy in the format of a scientific conference or round table. As for his report on the topic: “Soil - our precious capital, life and well-being”, Acad. G. Margvelashvili focused on a number of important issues, such as: the role of soil in the formation and preservation of biological diversity on our planet, sustainable development of agriculture and economic growth of the country; The information function of soil, which is manifested in the ability of soil to “remember and preserve in soil new formations the conditions of their formation in past historical and geological epochs, etc. Acad. G. Margvelashvili also touched upon the determining factors of land use in agriculture, the degree and areas of soil degradation in the world. He emphasized that approximately 7-8 to 15 million hectares of productive soil are withdrawn from agricultural use annually. Ms. Gogola also spoke about the state of our country’s soils, the problems related to soil protection and maintaining and increasing fertility, the reasons for the decrease in soil fertility, etc. Most importantly, she presented to the audience the important measures, the implementation of which will significantly improve the current state of the country’s soils.

Dr. G. Gambashidze, in his report “Evaluation of Soil Data in Field and Laboratory Conditions”, spoke about the importance of soil data, the knowledge of which is necessary: ​​to ensure sustainable soil management; to classify soils; to assess the level of soil fertility; to correctly select soil fertility improvement measures and develop recommendations; to spatially shift agricultural crops; to determine the degree of soil degradation and identify degraded areas; to ensure the safety of agricultural products and to assess the threats associated with it, and other. He also presented factors that affect the results of soil research, including: soil heterogeneity, variability of soil characteristics, different land uses, and different practices of soil fertility management on areas used by agricultural enterprises. Dr. G. Gambashidze also introduced the audience to the methods selected for field and laboratory soil research, and the impact of soil sampling on research results.

It is noteworthy that both reports presented at the round table received great interest and appreciation from the audience. A number of questions were asked, to which the speakers provided comprehensive answers.

The round table was summarized by Academician-Secretary of the Department of Agronomic Sciences of the Academy, Academician G. Margvelashvili. He thanked the audience for participating in the event and wished them success in their further activities.