On February 18, 2016, on the initiative of GAAS Hydro-melioration National Coordinator’s initiative a Round Table on: “The research and teaching in soil and water management” was organized. The chief presenters were Dr. Villibald Loiskland, The Director of the Institute of Water, Atmosphere and Environment Protection (BOKU), of the Vienna University of Natural Sciences and Nature Use Department (IHLV), and Dr. Margaritta Himmelbauer, the senior researcher at the same Institute. The academicians of GAAS participated in the Round Table discussion: The President of GAAS, Acad. G. Aleksidze, the Head of Academic Department Acad. E. Shapakidze, the Head of Agronomic Research Department, Acad. G. Margvelashvili, Acad. O. Keshelashvili, Acad. T. Kurashvili, staff members of GAAS, I. Kurashvili, a National Coordinator of Hydro-melioration direction at GAAS, professors: E. Kukhalashvili, D. Gubaladze, Z. Lobjanidze, K. Bziava, and others.

      The Round Table interesting presentations were followed by a discussion with active participation of the following persons: G. Aleksidze,E. Shapakidze, and I. Kurashvili.

     On the initiative of acad. Aleksidze and Dr. Loiskland, it was decided to prepare a Memorandum of Partnership between the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the Institute of Water, Atmosphere and Environment Protection (BOKU), of the Vienna University of Natural Sciences and Nature Use Department (IHLV). Accordingly, acad. E. Shapakidze and Prof. I. Kurashvili from Georgian side, and Dr. Margaritta Himmelbauer from Austrian side were designated as responsible persons for preparation of the necessary documentation.

The Round Table Discussion

The Participants of Round Table

 Austrian guests in the exhibition hall of the Academy

City of Kigali, Ruanda, East Africa

The president of GAAS, Acad. G. Aleksidze at International Assembly. On January 19-21, in Kigali, the capital of Ruanda, a Partnership Assembly (TAP) dedicated to development of agriculture in tropical countries was held in which the 80 representatives from different countries participated. The central two problems prepared for the discussion by TAP at the meeting were: The working Plan and “Tapipedia” , a computer software for tropical countries to use as a guideline. Also the meeting discussed the existed situation in agriculture and the perspectives of development of the following countries which were selected in advance: Honduras, Guatemala, Laos, Bangladesh, Angola, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Ruanda. The presentations were delivered by the representatives of above-mentioned countries who discussed the current situation in Agriculture.
The Assembly was officially opened by FAO representative Ataper Meiga and The Ruanda Ministry of Agriculture – Geraldina Mukaeshima who in her speech spoke about Ruanda Agriculture and innovative systems. The work carried out by TAP was summarized by the Head of TAP, Dr. Christian Host and TAP representative Karina Nichterlain.
The Participants of the Assembly of TAP In the work of Assembly, the following international organizations took place: World Bank, FAO, CIGIAR, GIFAR, regional centers, and other organizations. The participation of AGRONATURE in the work of Assembly was very important. The organization unites two thousand researchers of 31 European countries who work on research, study, education and training problems, and are actively involved in the problems of development of Agriculture of tropical countries.
At the end of the program, a Field Day was organized dedicated to the problems of plant and cattle development problems in Ruanda.
Acad. G. Aleksidze, the President of GAAS, took part in the work of Assembly who is the Head of CACAARI, and in his speech he focused on the existed situation in CACAARI region agriculture and stipulated his position regarding the necessity of its participation in TAP program. Also, the problems argued by TAP, he said, will be discussed in CACAARI regional meetings.