Women Agricultural Scientists at the Service of the Country's
Agricultural Sector
On February 11, 2026, the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences traditionally held a ceremonial session dedicated to the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The session was opened and the invited guests were welcomed by the Vice-President of the Academy, Academician Guram Aleksidze.
“On December 22, 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring February 11 as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The main goal of the resolution was to achieve qualitative changes in the process of involving women and girls in the scientific field. There are many female scientists working in various fields of science in Georgia, among whom there are many successful female agrarian scientists. They make a significant contribution to the development of the country’s agrarian sciences and, accordingly, the field. One of such women was Ksenia Bakhtadze, the first Georgian female academician in agrarian science, Doctor of Biological Sciences, and breeder. She worked at the Chakvi Experimental Station, where she bred 19 varieties of tea. No less merit was rendered to the country by Ms. Rusudan Khubutia. She was a plant protector. Ms. Rusudan’s scientific work in Georgia concerned The problem of weed infestation of agricultural crops, their harmfulness, and aspects of bio-ecology. Professor Khubutia was a member/correspondent of the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences,” noted G. Aleksidze.
Academician-Secretary of the Department of Agronomic Sciences of the Academy, Academician Gogola Margvelshvili, spoke about the contributions and merits of Georgian women scientists. She recalled Barbara Kipiani, granddaughter of Georgian public figure Dimitri Kipiani, who was one of the first Georgian doctors and scientists who got a diploma of a doctor in Europe. She was an author of many fundamental works, and a member of the French Medical Academy, the first Georgian psycho-physiologist working in Europe. The speaker emphasized her contribution to the popularization of Georgian spirituality and culture abroad.
Academician Margvelashvili also spoke about her path in science, about the research she conducted to reveal the effectiveness of phosphorus fertilizers in different types of soils of Eastern and Western Georgia; The effect of these fertilizers on the yield and quality of agricultural crops, soil fertility, the environment, and the dynamics of phosphates in the soil. The speaker also reported to the audience about the activities she carried out in the direction of raising young scientists. Under her supervision, 17 candidates of sciences and 4 doctors of sciences have defended dissertations.
During the ceremonial session, the invited guests, women working in the field of agrarian sciences delivered speeches. Among the speakers were: Eliso Gvelesiani, Manana Kachakhidze, Marina Donduashvili, Inga Gaprindashvili, Natalia Togonidze. They spoke about their field and activities.
Afterwards, a ceremony was held to award women scientists working in the agricultural field with honorary certificates from the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
The following were awarded the honorary diploma of the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences:
- Doctor of Agriculture - Maia Kheladze
- Doctor of Technology - Nana Gogishvili
- Doctor of Economics - Eliso Gvelesiani
- Doctor of Physics and Mathematics - Manana Kachakhidze
- Doctor of Agrarian Sciences - Eteri Tkesheliadze
- Doctor of Agriculture - Marina Donduashvili
- Master of Veterinary Medicine - Lena Ninidze
- Doctor of Agriculture - Narguli Asanidze
- Doctor of Agriculture - Lamzira Gorgiladze
- Doctor of Agriculture - Nargiza Alasania
- Doctor of Technical Sciences - Inga Gaprindashvili
- Doctor of Life Sciences - Natalia Togonidze
- Doctor of Agriculture - Tatia Khositashvili
The ceremonial session was attended by: Deputy President of the Academy, Academician Anatoly Giorgadze, Chief Academician-Secretary, Academician Aleksandre Didebulidze, Academician Nodar Chitanava, Head of the Academic Department, Academician Marine Barvenashvili; Academician-Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Academician Tengiz Kurashvili, Academician-Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection and Forestry Sciences, Academician Lasha Dolidze, Academician Jemal Gugushvili and staff of the Office.
Event in the Parliament of Georgia
In connection with the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, an event on the topic - "Women in Biotechnology: Science and Innovation" was held in the Parliament of Georgia.
The Speaker of the Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, addressed the participants of the event.
“Science, the development of thought, research, and the discovery of new things are what drives the world. Throughout history, many outstanding female scientists have been complicit in progress. Georgian female scientists have distinguished themselves not only in Georgia, but also in the international scientific space. From school age, the desire for innovation and discovery should be fostered. In this regard, school education is the most important, which should allow students to demonstrate their abilities. This is naturally followed by higher education. One of the important directions of the education reform is to return science to universities, so that academic activity includes active scientific work, and this is not an additional, secondary activity,” said Mr.Shalva Papuashvili.
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Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Nino Tsilosani addressed the invited guests with a welcoming speech.
“Women’s participation in science is not only a matter of equality, it is the basis for the quality of research, intellectual diversity and innovative development. Biotechnology, which is a special focus of today, is an area of strategic importance that is directly related to health, bio-safety and the country’s technological progress. Biotechnology is a space where knowledge is directly transformed into a public good, be it medicine, pharmacy, agriculture or epidemiological security. It is especially important that women not only participate in this process, but are often the creators of the achievements that the Georgian scientific school is proud of,” said Nino Tsilosani.
Mariam Lashkhi, Chairwoman of the Temporary Commission on Women and Children's Issues and the Committee on Education, Science and Youth Affairs, spoke about the role of women in science and the responsibility of the state to support women in science.
“They say that science has no gender. A formula, a discovery, a research result really has no gender, but the person who stands behind this discovery has a history. The history of a female scientist often includes additional challenges: combining family and career and facing the challenges of stereotypes. That is why every achievement of women scientists is particularly valuable, and it is the responsibility of the state not only to recognize equality, but also to create real conditions for it. Our job is to ensure that every girl who is interested in a laboratory, a telescope or a mathematical formula, feel that the country is by her side, not only on February 11, but every day of the year,” said Mariam Lashkhi.
Givi Mikanadze, Minister of Education, Science and Youth, and Teimuraz Dochviri, Director General of the Shota Rustaveli Georgian National Science Foundation, addressed the invited guests and congratulated women scientists on their professional day.
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The event discussed the issue of “Biotechnologies in Georgia – Where Are We Today? Women’s Experience in Biotechnologies”, the participants spoke about current state of development of the field in Georgia, its scientific potential and the importance of women scientists’ involvement.
Tinatin Sadunishvili was awarded a certificate of appreciation for her outstanding contribution to the scientific and educational field of biotechnology in the country; Marine Barvenashvili, Academician of Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences was awarded for her outstanding contribution to the agricultural scientific and educational field.
The event was attended by members of the legislative and executive authorities and representatives of the scientific field.
Academician of Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences,
Doctor of Agriculture Marine Barvenashvili
On February 11, 2026
Was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the Parliament of Georgia
For her outstanding contribution to the country's agrarian scientific and educational field, high standards of research activities and significant contribution to the development of society.
Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences cordially congratulates Dr. Marine Barvenashvili
on this great award wishes her success in scientific and public activities for the benefit of our country!
International Day of Women and Girls in Science
The Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia celebrated the International Day of Women and Girls in Science
On February 11, the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia and the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia organized an award ceremony for women and girls in science at the conference hall of the Paragraph Hotel.
Givi Mikanadze, Minister of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia, congratulated the audience on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science and spoke about the invaluable contribution of women to the development of the field of science.
Successful women scientists were awarded.
"This award is a kind of expression of our gratitude, recognition and respect for the tireless work of women scientists, which serves the progress and better future of the country. One of our important concerns is to implement even more supportive initiatives for women in the field of science and education. This is also confirmed by the fact that in recent years, over the past 5 years, about 2,700 projects of women scientists have been funded in the competitions of the Shota Rustaveli Georgian National Science Foundation. Their achievements and innovative vision strengthen the scientific field, create new opportunities and change the future of our country for the better,” said Givi Mikanadze.
Together with the minister, the scientists were presented with an honorary award by Teimuraz Dochviri, Director General of the Shota Rustaveli Georgian National Science Foundation.
The following persons were awarded for their exceptional contribution to science: Nino Kobauri, Marekh Mazanashvili, Tinatin Tkemaladze, Marika Tedoradze, Ia Mosashvili, Elza Jincharadze, Nino Tsulaia, Nino Beridze and Natela Baghatrishvili.
Within the framework of the event, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Education, Science and Youth Affairs of the Parliament of Georgia, Mariam Lashkhi, and the Deputy Chairwoman of the Tbilisi Municipality Council, Tinatin Nibloshvili, also addressed the gathering.
The event was attended by the following persons: Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia, Zviad Gabisonia, Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, Giorgi Jincharadze, President of the National Academy of Sciences, Academician Roin Metreveli, representatives of the Shota Rustaveli Georgian National Science Foundation, and other invited guests. The event was attended by the Chief Academician-Secretary of the Academy, Academician Aleksandre Didebulidze.
The awarding ceremony for women and girls in science was organized by the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia and the Shota Rustaveli Georgian National Science Foundation.
Working Meeting
Working Meeting on the Development of an Action Plan for the Further Development of the UNESCO-Recognized “Georgian Wheat Culture: Traditions and Rituals
On February 5 of this year, a working meeting was organized by the Agriculture Committee of the Parliament of Georgia to develop an action plan for the further development of the UNESCO-recognized “Georgian Wheat Culture: Traditions and Rituals”.
The meeting was opened with a welcoming speech by the Chairman of the Agriculture Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, Mr. Gela Samkharauli.
"After UNESCO included Georgian wheat culture in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, this recognition needs not only to be maintained, but also to be further developed. At today's working meeting, we gathered participants involved in previous preparatory processes and jointly discussed future plans. Our goal is to use the international recognition of Georgian wheat culture for the benefit of our country. Georgian wheat and the endemic varieties are unique, and introducing it to the international community will bring positive results both from an economic point of view and in terms of tourism development," said Gela Samkharauli.
Representatives of the legislative and executive authorities, the Patriarchate and farmers' associations, and experts in the field spoke about the measures that will be taken to protect and popularize Georgian wheat.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy President of the Academy, Academician Anatoly Giorgadze, from the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, who expressed the readiness of the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences to provide scientific support for the preservation and popularization of endemic varieties of Georgian wheat. He provided the audience with information about the state program recommendations "Grain" for the sustainable and safe development of grain farming developed by the Academy.
After the opinions expressed at the working meeting are reconciled, an action plan will be prepared that will support the further development of Georgian wheat culture.