Dear Mr. Tengiz,

Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences cordially congratulates you with the 70-year jubilee of fruitful scientific work and 45-year of successful pedagogical activity. We wish you to continue your resourceful and creative activities for many years in the best aspiration for the wellbeing and interest of our country.  

International Conference in the Exhibition Center Expo Georgia, Tbilisi

Halotomorpha halys (marmorated stink bug) – Global Challenge:

 International Experience and the best ways for solving the problems

On the 8^th of March in the Hall of Exhibition Center Expo Georgia, International Conference dedicated to the management of the problem caused by Halotomorpha halys was held which was organized by International organization USAID REAP and TRECE Inc.

The President of GAAS, Academician G. Aleksidze and Dr. A. Giorgadze participated in the Conference. The Conference participants were welcomed by the President of Georgian National Academy of Sciences Giorgi Kvesitadze and the Academician Gural Aleksidze. Also Bill W. Lingren, pfesident and CEO of Trace Inc ( USA), and Shamenna Gall, USAID, Economic Growth Office Deputy Director (USA) delivered welcoming speeches at the opening ceremony of the conference.

The researchers and the scientists from different countries, such as US, Italy, Russia, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan participated in the Conference.

  Academician G. Aleksidze in his speech underlined the importance of sharing information by American scientists who have many-year experience fighting against Halotomorpha halys. A good example of such cooperation is the assistance of Turkish researchers who shared their experience to their Georgian colleagues how to achieve success in the fight against different insects. 

The presentations delivered at the Conference dealt with Biodiversity in Caucasus, ( Prof. Arnold Gegechkori, Tbilisi State University); biological characteristics  of Halotomorpha halys ( Dr. M. Murvanidze, Institute of Entimology, Agrarian University); Experience in fight against  Halotomorpha halys , and the plans for the coming season ( presenter Andria Catani, Italy); The Advanced monitoring system for monitoring the spread of Halotomorpha halys ( Bill Lingren, USA); Pheromone trap-based thresholds for brown marmorated stink bug: history and current status. ( Dr. Cris Berg, Virginia Technical University ( USA);

Dr. Zurab Khidasheli, Scientific Research Center of Agriculture, presented Preliminary Results of Testing some Insecticides against BMSB in Western Georgia. Dr. Manana Kakhadze, Georgian Agrarian University, talked about Preliminary data on Agriculture crops protection from BMSB by using of mycopesticides in Georgia.

Dr. Archil Chirakadze, Georgian Technical University, - article dealt with of marmorated stinkbug management options for commercial farmers. Dr. Chris Berg, Virginia State University, USA, presented two article under the title:  Attract and Kill for brown marmorated stinkbug:  promising results from Mid - Atlantic., and the second one: Opportunities to reduce brown marmorated stink bug populations during its dispersal to overwintering sites.

The Conference participants Nikoloz Meskhi, Food National Agency of Environment Protection and Agriculture shared his opinion regarding Scientific Aspects of the BMSB State Strategy.

Dr. Kim Holmer, USA “Prospects for Biological Control of Brown Marmorated Stink bug”.

Dr. Phillip G. Mulder, Jn. USA, presented the results of his research - “ Challendes in developing an area-wide approach to management of the brown marmorated stink bug in Georgian hazelnuts.

 At the end of the Conference the participants summed up the results of the work and concluded that the presentations were very interesting which will hopefully be shared by the government representatives and the farmers who have to continue their fight against the brown marmorated stink bug.

The Report of the President of Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences
about the results of five-year work carried out by the Academy

      Presentation of Academician Guram Aleksidze at the meeting held at the Academy

 February 28, 2018

On February 28, 2018, at Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences a Meeting was held. The floor was given to a key speaker, Academician Guram Aleksidze, the President of the Academy, who made a Presentation on the results of five-year work carried out by the Academy in 2013-2017.

The Presenter G. Aleksidze, in the first part of his speech, spoke about the working programs which were executed by the Academy during his election period and which was first announced in his election program. He dealt with the structure of the Academy and the programs the Academy which have been executed for 5 years. Particular attention was paid to International contacts set during the same period on institutional level as well as by the individual members of the Academy. Partnership memorandums have been signed with local and international organizations; also, a number of international and local scientific conferences, round tables and seminars organized by the Academy played a significant role in further development and popularization of the Academy and its activities.

 The presenter focused on important directions in the work of the Academy, such as, National Coordinators’ Institute, Training Courses for the Farmers and Specialists working in the field of Agriculture, and a Scientific Center of Agro-bio-diversity. The presenter gave a high evaluation to the efforts carried out by abovementioned entities.

Academician G. Aleksidze presented to the members of the meeting a rich statistical material dealing with the scientific publications of the Academicians for the last five years, which includes: scientific works, monographs, text-books, articles, practical recommendations, inventions and patents.

The presentation received high appreciation from the audience, many of whom were pleased to express their opinion round the problems the presenter dealt with, as well as towards the presenter, the academician Guram Aleksidze. The Academicians: N. Karkashadze, O. Keshelashvili, Z. Tskitishvili, E. Shapatava, G. Papunidze, R. Chagelishvili, R. Makharoblidze, I. Vasadze, J. Katsitadze and R, Kopaliani evaluated the last five year in the life of the Academy as very successful and full of remarkable achievements at a local and international levels, which found brilliant reflection in the account made by the president.

At the same Meeting, an account on the work carried out by the Scientific Departments of the Academy was delivered and evaluated by its participants. Academician-Secretaries G. Margvelashvili, J. Gugushvili, R. Makharoblidze, N. Baghaturia, Z. Tskitishvili,  and R, Chagelishvili imparted essential aspects of the work carried out by their departments. The Meeting participants gave high evaluation to the fruitful scientific activities of the Departments. 

The Draft of the Bill regarding the rules of election of the president of the Academy in 2018 could be seen in the attachment. 

Based on the Memorandum which was signed between the Academy of Agriculture and the Ministry of Agriculture of Ajara, signed in 2013, the partnership between the two entities has been developing successfully. With the initiative of the Academy,  In 2018, in the Center of Agro Service, Ajara, a sample exhibition of silk worm and cocoon production in quantity of one box is planned.   To achieve this goal, the Center of Agro Service signed an agreement with the Mechanical Plant of Ozurgeti, in which the small scale technical devices and machines, such as leaf –cutting and simple type feeding equipment with 60 m² will be made. The project also covers the plan for spinning of silk thread on the loom which is a present of Jimsher Chkhaidze, who donated two looms to Georgia in 2017. With his permission, this loom will be used in Ajara to produce silk.

   In 2018, on February 6, the Academician Elguja Shapakidze, experienced specialists Dr. Nargiza Baramidze and scientific worker Zoia Tskaruashvili visited the renowned silk producer, Mrs. lamara Bejuashvili in Sighnaghi region to purchase hybrid cocoon for silk worm feeding.    

  The guests visited to take a close study of the production process, also studied the premises and workshop for silk manufacturing and keeping cocoon. Mrs. Bejuashvili said she that she has continued the century-old Georgian traditions of managing cocoon and manufacturing silk, and is sharing her experience not only  with a few Georgians who wish to be involved in sericulture, but with foreign guests as well who visit her mini-workshop quite frequently and take a deep interest in the process of sericulture manufacturing.

  Mrs. Lamara Bejuashvili donated 30gr hybrid cocoon, which will be used for testing of silk worm feeding in Ajara, at Gvara Experimental base. She will also monitor the process also in Ajara, because the feeding base will be introduced from East Georgia – to the West, which will be an interesting process and raises interest among the specialists.