Meeting regarding amendments to the Forest Codex
Within the framework of the National Forestry Program, a public discussion was held at the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture with the participation of representatives of state agencies, academic circles, non-governmental and international organizations regarding the Amendments to the Forest Codex.
Academician Lasha Dolidze, Academician-Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection and Forestry Sciences of the Academy, participated in the meeting from the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
It was noted at the meeting that the main priority is the restoration of degraded forests, and the physical protection of forests. Accordingly, the amendments to the Code provide for the improvement of monitoring and control, and strengthening of forest protection mechanisms; it is also planned to simplify business processes and optimize the costs.
"The planned changes to the Forest Codex aim to strengthen the protection of forest resources and forests with modern technologies and technical equipment; as well as to increase the number and qualifications of foresters and forest guards. It is noteworthy that as part of the reform, from January 1, 2026, with the support of the Government of Georgia, the salaries of employees in this field have significantly increased. In parallel, it is planned to more actively involve the commercial sector, enhance the transparency of activities, and optimize costs in order to form a competitive market and make forest resources accessible to entrepreneurs," said Zurab Ezugbaia, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture.
The draft law emphasizes the function of physical forest protection of the National Forestry Agency. It is planned to add 401 forest guards, as a result of which the area to be protected per guard will decrease from 10-15 thousand hectares to an average of 2,000 hectares. Also, in order to increase the effectiveness of forest protection and monitoring, it is planned to technically re-equip the National Forestry Agency with modern technological means.
Academician Zurab Tskitishvili turned 85
Doctor of Technical Sciences, Member of the Presidium of Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Academician-Secretary of the Department of Food Safety and Food Technology Sciences, Academician Zurab Tskitishvili turned 85 on January 31 of this year, and 60 years of scientific, pedagogical and public activity.
Zurab Tskitishvili was born on January 31, 1941 in Tbilisi. In 1965 he successfully graduated from of Chemistry and Food Technology of the Georgian Polytechnic Institute, specializing in food technology and began working at the Tbilisi Dairy Plant. In 1972, he continued his work as the head of production at the Gardabani Cheese and Butter Factory, and in 1973 - as the director of the same factory. In 1976-1991, Mr. Zurab Tskitishvili was the chief engineer of the Georgian Milk Union; in 1991-1993 - the general director of the Tbilisi Dairy Plant, and since 1993 till is a President of "Amaltea". He has made a great contribution to the development of the dairy processing industry in the country.
In 1995-2007, Mr. Tskitishvili was elected a deputy of the Parliament of Georgia for three convocations. In 1995-2002, he was the chairman of the Parliament's Economy Committee. During this period, several important laws for Georgia were adopted by the Parliament of Georgia on his initiative, including: “On National Independent Regulatory Bodies”, “On Food Quality and Safety”, “On the Chamber of Commerce” and others.
Zurab Tskitishvili began his scientific activity while his postgraduate studies at the Moscow Dairy Research Institute. In 1979, he defended his candidate's thesis there and was awarded the scientific degree of Candidate of Technical Sciences. In 1991, he defended his doctoral thesis at Moscow Meat Industry Research Institute and was awarded the scientific degree of Doctor of Technical Sciences.
In 1994, Mr.Tskitishvili was elected a Corresponding Member of the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and in 1997, a Full Member (Academician).
Since 2013, he has been the Academician-Secretary of the Scientific Department of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Medicine, Food Production and Animal Products Processing of Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences; and since 2018, he has been the Academician-Secretary of the Department of Food Safety and Food Technology Sciences and the Academy’s Sectoral Coordinator for Food Safety.
In 2014, the newly established Agricultural Scientific Research Center of the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia established a Food Safety Risk Assessment Service, headed by Mr. Zurab Tskitishvili. He was elected Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of the same Center.
The merits of Mr. Zurab Tskitishvili in the creation and development of the risk assessment system in Georgia is noteworthy. Based on the assessment organized by him, the Georgian Government established the threshold values of trans-isomeric fats with genotoxic properties in food and, most importantly, state control in this field was implemented. Also noteworthy is the approval of the “Post-pandemic Risk Assessment Concept” prepared by him in 2020 and the “Risk Assessment Initiation Procedures” document, which determines the systematic approach to the risk assessment process, developed by his authorship. In 2014, the newly established Agricultural Scientific Research Center of the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia established a Food Safety Risk Assessment Service, headed by Mr. Zurab Tskitishvili. He was elected Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board at the same center.
Mr. Zurab has been involved in the development of the Georgian food safety system for many years as a scientific expert, coordinator and author of strategic documents. His work is based on science-based decisions, risk-oriented approaches and harmonization with international standards. As a sector coordinator, whose activities include: development of risk assessment initiation procedures, identification and ranking of priority threats, systemic integration of the One Health concept, establishment of multidisciplinary working groups and coordination platforms, he performs a connecting function: between science and policy-making structures, between risk assessment and risk management, between the national system and international organizations (FAO, WHO, Codex Alimentarius).
Under the leadership of Academician Zurab Tskitishvili, a number of important initiatives have been implemented, including: development of SOPs for risk assessment and management; establishment of conceptual frameworks for integrated analysis of environmental, animal and human health; science-based solutions; transparent communication with the public; prevention as a systemic tool. His activities are aimed at sustainable strengthening of the national food safety system, improvement of public health protection and development of Georgia in line with international practices. Academician Zurab Tskitishvili currently continues his fruitful scientific and research activities at the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences. He combined the solution of the most difficult technological and scientific tasks of the dairy processing industry with each other, laid the foundation for the risk assessment system. He has published about 90 scientific papers, including 2 books, and is the author of 17 inventions and 1 patent. He actively participates in both local and international conferences, congresses and symposiums. He has been awarded the “Order of Honor”.
Mr. Zurab Tskitishvili has two children, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
On behalf of Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, We congratulate you on your significant dates, wish you good health and long life, fruitful creative scientific and public activities for the benefit of our country.
Awarding the Winners of the National Award Competition
The award ceremony of the winners of the National Prize Competition was held at the Presidential Palace, in which the Minister of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia Givi Mikanadze participated.
In his speech, the Minister spoke about the importance of the National Prize Competition and drew attention to the outstanding role of scientists in the development of the country.
Givi Mikanadze congratulated the winners on their success and thanked them for their special contribution to the development of science.
“We thank each scientist who serves an exceptionally important aims and missions of our country. Being a scientist is a great responsibility – you bring the country such scientific achievements that becomes the property of the nation, but the results of your creative work require great knowledge and professionalism.
Implementation of the initiatives such as the National Prize is particularly important. Awarding and recognizing scientists plays a crucial role in encouraging scientific activity, emphasizes the achievements of scientists and raises their authority, and also motivates young scientists, "said Givi Mikanadze.
The winners of the National Prize were awarded Georgian National Prize Laureate Diplomas, Badges and the corresponding cash prize by the President of Georgia Mikheil Kavelashvili.
The President thanked the winners for their worthy contribution to the enrichment of not only Georgian but also world scientific activity.
Based on the decision of the Georgian National Prize Commission, by the decree of the President, the Georgian National Prize was awarded to:
Levan Japaridze - for the cycle of scientific works: “Mechanics of Underground Structures”, “Calculation of Underground Structures Support at Limit States”, “Limit Service Conditions of Underground Structures”;
A group of authors: Roin Metreveli, Vakhtang Guruli, Lela Mikiashvili, Valerian Vashakidze, Giorgi Cheishvili, Otar Janelidze, Joni Kvitsiani and Aleksandre Daushvili - for the scientific monographic work “History of the Caucasus” (two volumes).
The National Prize Commission consisted of: Chairman of the Commission - Doctor of Law, Professor, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia Zviad Gabisonia
Commission members:
Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Rector of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Academician of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences Jaba Samushia;
Candidate of Technical Sciences, Professor, Rector of the Georgian Technical University, Academician of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences David Gurgenidze;
Doctor of Economic Sciences, - Academician-Secretary of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences Vladimer Papava;
Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor, Academician, - President of the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences Givi Japaridze;
Doctor of Physical Sciences, - Professor of Ilia State University, Academician of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences Giorgi Japaridze;
Doctor of Medicine, Professor, - Rector of Tbilisi State Medical University Irakli Natroshvili;
Doctor of Biological Sciences, Director of the Giorgi Eliava Institute of Bacteriophagy, Microbiology and Virology Mzia Kutateladze;
Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Director of the Arnold Chikobava Institute of Linguistics of TSU Nana Machavariani.
The ceremony held at the Presidential Palace was attended by Zviad Gabisonia, Chairman of the National Prize Commission, Mariam Lashkhi, Chairman of the Education, Science and Youth Affairs Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, and Giorgi Chakvetadze, First Deputy Chairman of the Education, Science and Youth Affairs Committee.
Meeting of the Innovation Commission
On January 21, 2026, a meeting of the Agrarian Innovations Commission under the Presidium of the Academy was held, at which the Head of the Agro-Industrial Crops Research Service of the Agricultural Scientific-Research Center, Associate Professor of the Georgian Agrarian University, Doctor of Agriculture Nani Goginashvili delivered a report on the topic: “Arrangement and Management of Windbreaks”.
The speaker noted that in Georgia, due to the action of strong winds, soils in agricultural areas often dry out and the humus layer is blown away, which causes crops to die. Under the influence of such winds, tree trunks, leaves, flowers, and fruits are damaged in orchards, which leads to a significant reduction in yield. As for annual crops, they are destroyed as a result of soil scattering and drying out. The country is divided into 3 regions based on the strength of the prevailing winds; Categorized into: with strong winds, moderately strong winds, and relatively weak winds.
In her report, Dr. Goginashvili emphasized that it is important for farmers and interested parties to know how to plan, cultivate, maintain, and manage windbreak zones, considering soil and climatic conditions and wind strength of a specific region of Georgia, also selecting appropriate plant species.
The speaker informed the audience that they had studied and discussed the structure, design, and functions of windbreaks; assessed wind erosion and the advantages of windbreaks in the process of growing crops for those plants most widely used to cultivate windbreaks in Georgia; It was recommended that soil and climatic conditions be taken into account when cultivating windbreaks, etc. A special emphasis was made on the importance of adhering to legislative regulations regarding the construction and maintenance of windbreaks.
The presentation was followed by discussion; the questions were asked and opinions were expressed by academicians: L. Dolidze and Al. Didebulidze, professors: Ts. Samadashvili, N. Ebanoidze and T. Bichiashvili, doctors: G. Tsopurashvili, E. Katsitadze, Z. Loladze, N. Dzidzikashvili, and L. Katamadze. After the meeting, the draft resolution was unanimously adopted, taking into account certain remarks.