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

(City – Minsk, Belarus)

On July 5-9, 2017, in Minsk, Belarus State University, an International Symposium “Eurasian Biodiversity” was held, and renowned researchers from twenty five countries participated in the work of the Symposium. Among them was Professor Revaz Jabnidze, academician of Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences who delivered his scientific paper on:  Peculiarities of growing and developing of the citruses introduced into Georgia”. The article raised live interest and was followed by discussion. R. Jabnidze also addressed the participants in his welcoming speech and particularly focused on friendship and fruitful cooperation between the two countries – Georgia and Belarus. There is a memorandum of partnership between the Academies of Agriculture of the two countries which was signed in Tbilisi, when the President of Belarus Lukashenko had an official visit in Georgia. The cooperation in the field of agriculture is developing and is mutually beneficial for both parties. 

Academician Jabnidze was chairing scientific session in Plant Studies. The work of the session was distinguished at the Conference as one of the most fruitful and successful and its participants were given certificates. At the end of the Conference it was announced that the next conference will be held in Ukraine, and in 2019 the same conference will be hosted by Georgia.     

On the Photo: The participants of the Symposium from the right – Prof. Antonio Valverde, Agrarian University of Barcelona, Academician Rezo Jabnidze, Prof. Vladimer Vasiliev, Vice Rector of Belarus State University, and Prof.  Alphonso Galvani, Director of Research Institute of Biodiversity in Italy. 

On July 10, 2017, in the Academy, a Round Table on “Education – Research – Innovations” initiated by Coordinating group   was held within the project of “135 – Enhancing academic cooperation in environmental studies “( ACCES).

 The event was attended by the members of the Academy: academicians R. Makharoblidze and E. Shapakidze, secretaries: Dr. Barnavelidze, and Dr. Lolishvili, leading specialists: L. Chaika and I. Chkoidze, the member of coordinators Prof. O. Karchava, professors of Agrarian University Prof. Kurashvili, Prof, Gubaladze, Prof. T. Odilavadze, and others.

Active part in the discussion took the invited guests from Vienna University of Natural Resources and Science.  Prof. M. Hymelbauer made a presentation on: “Green Technologies” and outlined the significance of teaching environmental studies to students, and role of new approaches and methodology of teaching. He shared with the participants the rich experience of his University BOKU – about the implementation of electronic teaching (MOODLE).

The round table participants expressed strong will to pay more attention to educational programs. Form this point of view, it is important to mention a fruitful cooperation between Georgian Technical University and the Academy of Agricultural Sciences.   Considerable progress has been achieved in this area with the initiative of G. Kvartskhava and K. kruashvili, the head of Department of the Technical University. 

In 21-25 June, 2017, in the city of Varna, an International Scientific- Technical Congress on the topic: “Technology in Agriculture” was held. More than 100 researchers and doctorate students participated from European Union and Eastern European countries, among them 4 academicians, 60 professors and 30 doctorate students and scientific workers. Georgia was represented by the Professor of Agrarian University, academician Jemal Katsitadze and Doctor Giorgi Kutelia.

Academician Jemal Katsitadze delivered the scientific paper: “Improving the reliability of agricultural machinery, using the method of restoration of parts under submerged arc welding, and its technical and economic evaluation”. He was also a member of organizing committee of the Congress and he addressed the Congress participants from the name of GAAS and its president G. Aleksidze, and wished success in further scientific work. The Organizing Committee selected three best scientific papers among them was the article by J. Katsitadze which was awarded by the Highest Diploma and was published in a scientific journal MTM (Machines, Technologies, Materials).  

 Speech of Jemal Katsitadze at International Scientific Congress,
Varna, Bulgaria, June 22, 2017