On June 5, 2019, a meeting dedicated to innovations in agriculture was held. Academician E. Shapakidze made a presentation on the topic: “Georgian Sericulture: Problems and perspectives”. He underscored the following: Sericulture has always been one of the leading fields in agriculture and played a significant role in Georgian economy because it was also a source of income. Georgian silk material was popular not only in Georgia, but also abroad and had a good reputation on world market, therefore silk was a valuable commodity. After 1990s, when Georgia gained independence and market economy was established, a few attempts for restoration of Georgian sericulture have not been effective. He also mentioned that restoration of Georgian silk production should be based on cooperation between farms, agrarians, producers and market specialists. Alongside those measures, it is important to raise the level of mechanization and introduce new machines, which will increase economic effectiveness and attract new labor force. Among many other limitations, the presenter stressed out poor food base for silkworm, necessity of development of silk egg production and combining sericulture with other fields of agriculture.  

One of the key points in the presentation was improvement of quality through implementation of effective measures and deepening relations with international organization of sericulture specialists BACSA (Black and Caspian Seas and Central Asia Association of Sericulture).

It is important to get new breeds of mulberry tree which will be resistant to mulberry tree diseases (leaf curl, alura) through selection process. Improvement of silk egg selection process will result in high quality of silk thread. Those and many other urgent problems regarding sericulture and silk production restoration in Georgia have been raised and discussed on scientific level by Academician Elguja Shapakidze.

The meeting attended the representatives of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture and its agencies, international organizations, researchers and agrarian specialists, the farmers.

The Statement made by the meeting participants was passed to the presidium of the Academy for further discussion, so that the proposal should be presented to the government representatives for consideration.

On Decision of the Commission for Innovations, a working group is organized which will continue working on the abovementioned problem – restoration of sericulture in Georgia and its further support – work out recommendations and prepare other necessary documentation.

On June 3, 2019, a regular meeting was held with the following agenda:

1.Information about the contest declared by GAAS to fill the vacancy of real member of the Academy, and scholarships for young researchers.

Presenter: Academician Guram Aleksidze, the President of GAAS.

2.Final report of the Contest Organizing Commission, set up by the GAAS President;

Presenter: Expert Group leader, Academician Nodar Chitanava.

3.Elections and–casting votes to the candidates -young researchers to get scientific scholarship. (Secret balloting).

         Following the Chart of Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, ( Chapter X, Par. 45,46,48,51 and 53), and the Regulation regarding the procedure of election of the Candidates for Scientific Scholarship ( passed on January 25, 2019), the elections held on June 3, 2019, revealed the winners.

       Forest Studies Scientific Department – Specialty -0105 “Forestry”. Specialization 010501 “ Forest Industry” – Real member of the Academy, Academician.  

       Giorgi Gagoshidze – Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Full Professor of Georgian Technical University.

Scientific Scholarship Winners:  

1.Scientific Department of Agronomy (The Academy Scholarship winner)

        1.1.Kvartskhava Giga, Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Professor of Georgian Technical University. Dean of Agrarian Sciences and Bio-Systems Engineering.

2.Scientific Department of Cattle breeding and Veterinary (The Academy Scholarship winner)

     2.1. Giorgadze, Anatoli – Academic Doctor of Agriculture, Deputy of the President of GAAS. Scientific Department Coordinator, Head of Administrative Department.

3.   Scientific Department of Agro- Engineering (The Academy Scholarship winner)

       3.1.   Kutelia Giorgi - Academic Doctor of Engineering.

Chief Specialist, Scientific -Research Center, Georgian Ministry of Environment and Agriculture.

4.    

4.  Forest Studies Scientific Department –Forest Industry” (The Academy Scholarship winner).

4.1.          Kavtaradze, Giorgi – Academic Doctor in Forest Studies, Associate Professor of Georgian Agrarian University; Deputy Director of V. Gulisashvili Forest Studies Institute.

5.  Scientific Department of Economy   (The Academy Scholarship winner).

         5.1.     Jabnidze, Nato - Academic Doctor in Economy, Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University; Assistant       
Professor, Faculty of Economy and Business;

6.    Food Safety and Food Technology Scientific Department (The Academy Scholarship winner).

     6.1.    Food Technology Direction

Katsitadze Ekaterine – Academic Doctor in Technical Sciences. Chief Specialist, Scientific -Research Center, Georgian Ministry of Environment and Agriculture; Associate Professor, faculty of Food Product Technology; Assoc. Prof. Tbilisi Study University.

          6.2.    Food Safety Direction.

           Dughashvili, Darejan, Academic Doctor of Chemistry, Consultant,

           Agricultural Scientific -Research Center, Georgian Ministry of Environment and Agriculture;

Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences congratulates recently elected researchers – the winners of the Academy Scholarship with the achievements in the contest held by the Academy for the Scientific Scholarship. We wish our scholarship winners success in development of Georgian agrarian sciences.

On May 16, 2019, a Round Table meeting was held at the Academy dedicated to existed situation challenges and future perspectives of development in forest management. The meeting was organized by Department of Forest Studies, GAAS.

Round Table meeting attended the members of the Academy, representatives of Forest Agency, experts, and the students from Georgian Technical University and Secondary State School #31, and its Director Marina Nijharadze.

Round Table was opened with introductory speech of the president of GAAS, Academician Guram Aleksidze who focused on the importance of the activities carried out by the Academy in the direction of forest management; also, he stressed out the significance of proposals and other documents regarding forest studies sent to the legislative and executive bodies of the country.

The presentation on: “The existed problems in Forest Studies and the Ways of addressing them” was delivered by the Forest expert – Merab Dvali. In the discussion round the problem, the researchers and honorable experts and specialists – Dr. A. Supatashvili, Dr. G. Gagoshidze, A. Mgeladze, a representative of Green Movement, B. Gulua who talked on behalf of Georgian Patriarch, and N. Berejhiani from Forest Agency took active part. Also, Marina Nijharadze, Director of Secondary State School #31 welcomed the Round Table participants.

           The problems and the strategy for its further improvement rose during Round Table meeting was summarized by Academician Givi Japaridze, Vice President of GAAS. He spoke about the importance of suggestions prepared and delivered to the Government by the Academy. Georgian Parliament took into consideration the abovementioned suggestions and offered to continue working on the new regulations. Therefore, Academician G. Japaridze addressed the participants to present their suggestions and opinions regarding Forest Studies and the approaches for the successful management. The discussion around the forest problems and the proposals for overcoming the existed problems presented by the researchers and experts will be held in the nearest foreseen period of time to be delivered to the legislative and executive bodies of Georgian Government for further consideration.  

        Tbilisi May 15, 2019.

          Following the Chart of Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, (Chapter IX, Par. 38; Chapter X, Par. 38; Chapter X, Par 40 and 41), and the Regulations regarding the procedure of election of the Candidates for Scientific Scholarship of the Academy (passed on January 25, 2019), the elections were held on June 3, 2019, following the rule of secret balloting, and it revealed the following candidates of the election participants: See the details in attachment.