On August 9, the representatives of Oregon State University visited Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Agricultural Academy of Sciences of Georgia and Oregon State University have had interesting collaboration since 2000. Among the honorable guests were: Prof. Shown A.  Mehlenbacher, hazelnut breeding and genetics, Oregon State University,  Mr. Jacob Snelling, Research Assistant, hazelnut genetic lab, Mr. Justin  Lombardoni, graduate student studying Georgian hazelnut germplasm,  Rutgers University, Mr. Jorge  Mohr, Viveros Nefuen, hazelnut propagation and orchard management, Chile. Mrs. Victoria Lira, specialized on history. Also, Georgian researchers: Dr. Khatuna Akhalaia, Eco-technologist,  Dr. Maia Mirotadze , Food Technologies, and nana Mirotadze, participated in the meeting. The aim of the meeting was to design the ways of future cooperation in production of hazel nut, improvement of present situation and working out the strategy for raising the efficiency of the hazel nut production. Local partner organization -  Eco Life Consulting.

 The representatives of Georgina Academy of Agricultural Sciences Academician Guram Aleksidze, the President of the GAAS, Vice President, Academician Givi Japaridze, Academician Iuza Vasadze, Deputy President Dr. Anatoli Giorgadze, Scientific Secretaries, Dr. Marina Bardavelidze and Dr. Revaz Lolishvili, and Assistant of the President, Tina Epitashvili were attending the meeting. The researchers exchanged the information about hazelnut orchard development and strategy.

At the end of the meeting , the sides agreed to continue mutual support regarding implementation of modern technologies for growing and producing hazel nuts in Georgia. The guests continued their trip in Kakheti and Samegrelo regions to study the existed state of problem   

Photo: The meeting participants at GAAS

Photo: The President of GAAS, G. Aleksidze and Mr. Shawn A. Mehlenbacher