Agrarian Innovation Commission session

 In February, a commission meeting was held, at which the report prepared by the Viticulture Cadastre Division of the National Wine Agency of the State of Georgia was discussed: "Ways and results of the construction of the vineyard cadastre of Georgia" (authors: Doctor of Agriculture, Chief Specialist Irma Mdinaradze and Head of the Department, Doctor of Agriculture Davit Maghradze).

Academician Aleksandre Didebulidze, the chairman of the commission, opened the session with an introductory speech, who briefly described the current situation in the winemaking sector of Georgia and the problems to be solved, and emphasized the great role of the creation of the cadastre of vineyards in solving these problems.

Davit Maghradze, the speaker, noted that all EU member countries, where viticulture and winemaking are developed, have vineyard cadastres. Based on the current reality, the planning and implementation of the vineyard cadastre of Georgia can be characterized as a step forward towards the European experience. Considering the above, since 2014, the National Wine Agency of the State of Georgia has been implementing the Cadastre project of vineyards of Georgia, which is a means of monitoring vineyard areas and grape production; It is created by collecting detailed agronomic information about vineyard plots, creating a register of winegrowers and winemakers, and constantly updating it by collecting survey information based on aerial photo images.

The purpose of the Vineyard Cadastre is:

Registration and storage of information about all existing units (enterprises) in the vine and wine sector;

Collecting, registering and storing information on the location of Georgian vineyards, their area, varietal composition, planting year and other indicators related to viticulture practices, based on GIS technologies;

Production and storage of questionnaire (so-called "alphanumeric") and graphical historical data of vineyards; 

Taking into account viticulture zones for the analysis of the production potential of vineyards, promoting the creation of new zones and clarifying the boundaries of existing zones;

Forecasting of grape harvest and wine production, development of statistical reports based on information collected in the viticulture register, and more.

In 2014-2021, the vineyards of the Kakheti, Racha and Lechkhumi wine-growing zones were fully described within the framework of the vineyard cadastre project, covering a total area of 42,089 ha. The harvest was carried out in the mentioned zones on the basis of cadastre extracts of vineyards, and in 2022, the cadastre construction work continued in the viticulture zone of Kartli (Shida Kartli, Kvemo Kartli) - maps of the region were uploaded to the unified database of the cadastre of vineyards, on which vineyard polygons were drawn, and cadastral information is currently being collected. In 2023, it is planned to continue construction of the cadastre in the viticulture zones of Meskheti, Imereti, Guria, Samegrelo and Adjara.

The Vice-President of the Academy, Academician Givi Japaridze, Academicians Nodar Chitanava and Aleksandre Didebulidze, Professors Tsotne Samadashvili, Gela Javakhishvili, Nodar Khatiashvili, Otar Karchava, Anzor Meskhishvili, Academy Scholar Dr. Ekaterina Katsitadze, and Dr. Zurab Loladze took part in the discussion after the report. They wished the members of the Cadastre Department important achievements in the direction of creating the vineyard cadastre of Georgia and new successes in their further work.

February 11, International Day of Women and Girls celebrated at the Academy of Agricultural Sciences

International Day of Women and Girls in Science – February 11, 2023 allows us to honor women's significant achievements in science and place a much-needed focus on girls entering Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers.

On February 13 of the current year, a ceremonial session dedicated to the International Day of Scientific Women and Girls was held in the conference hall of the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The session was attended by: the President of the Academy, Academician Guram Aleksidze, the Deputy President of the Academy, Coordinator of Scientific Departments, Academician Anatoli Giorgadze, Academician-Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Academician Jemal Gugushvili, learned secretaries of the scientific departments of the Academy: Dr. Marine Barvenashvili and Academician Lasha Dolidze. Employees of academic and administrative departments and invited guests, among whom were Zaza Maruashvili, the head of the Higher Education Department of the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, Zurab Khutsishvili, an employee of the Science Department, and women scientists and agriculturists working in the agricultural field.

The session was opened by the President of the Academy, Academician Guram Aleksidze, who addressed the audience with a welcome speech. He briefly reviewed the purpose of establishing the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. He noted that today in Georgia, there are many female scientists working in various fields of science, among whom there are many successful female agriculturist scientists. They make a significant contribution to the development of the country's agrarian science, that is why the work and merits of the mentioned wome scientists are highly significant and appreciated.

Then Mr. Guram gave a speech to the learned secretary of the scientific departments of the Academy, Dr. Marine Barvenashvili, who presented to the audience with a report: "Prominent women scientists in the agricultural sector of Georgia". Dr. M. Barvenashvili reviewed the important episodes depicting the scientific-research activities of the outstanding women scientists of the past and present working in the agricultural field. Ksenia Bakhtadze, who was the first Georgian woman academician was awarded in 1948, the State Prize of the Soviet Union for the creation of "Georgian Selective Tea No. 1" and "Georgian Selective Tea No. 2" out of 19 varieties of tea breeds by her. Professor Rusudan Khubutia, whose scientific work was related to the problem of weeding of agricultural crops in Georgia, regularities of formation of agrocenosis, harmfulness of weeds, aspects of bioecology, was no less worthy of the country. Mrs. Rusudani was a member/correspondent of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Georgia.

As for today's situation, the speaker focused on the academician of the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Mrs. Gogola Margvelashvili, who at the same time is the academician-secretary of the agronomic sciences department of the academy. Agrochemist by specialty, she is the only Georgian woman academician in this field in the history of Georgia. It is also worth noting that Academician Gogola Margvelashvili is considered the head of the Georgian scientific school for the development of theoretical and practical foundations of the effective use of phosphorus fertilizers in the main types of soils of Eastern Georgia. Then Dr. M. Barvenashvili spoke about the scientific and pedagogical activities of Lamara Jikia, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Zaira Kapiashvili, Doctor of Veterinary Sciences, Mzago Lobzhanidze, Doctor of Biological Sciences, and Natalia Diakova, Doctor of Agriculture, about their achievements in the development of agricultural science. 

At the end of the report, Dr. Marina Barvenashvili once again congratulated the female scientists in the hall on the International Day of Scientific Women and Girls, wished them long life, health and success in their scientific activities. After Barvenashvili's report, the President of the Academy, Academician G. Aleksidze gave the floor to the head of the Higher Education Department of the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, Mr. Zaza Maruashvili. Mr. Zaza congratulated the women scientists in the hall on a remarkable date and wished them progress in their fields. Then he spoke about Georgian women scientists, their role in the development of science in the country, as well as about the events and activities held on the above-mentioned date throughout the country. Mr. Zaza expressed his hope that women scientists-agriculturists will continue their work with their usual attitude and enthusiasm and will have their say both in scientific and research activities, as well as in terms of education of the next generation. At the end of the ceremonial session dedicated to the International Day of Scientific Women and Girls, the President of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Academician Guram Aleksidze awarded 19 successful women with certificates of honor of the Academy for their scientific achievements in the agricultural field, among them were graduates of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Georgia, the Scientific Research Center of the Georgian Academy of Sciences, the Technical University of Georgia , representatives of the Institute of Tea and Subtropical Cultures of the Agrarian University of Georgia, Batumi State University named after Shota Rustaveli, representatives of the National Wine Agency. The ladies awarded with certificates of honor of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Georgia thanked the President of the Academy for such great appreciation and promised to continue their creative and scientific activities for the benefit of our country.

Review of the learned expert’ registry portal project at the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences

   On February 2 of the current year, a round table was held in the conference hall of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Georgia, where the attending public was informed about the creation of the portal "Register of Learned Experts". The president of the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, academician Guram Aleksidze, the deputy president of the academy, coordinator of scientific departments, academician Anatoli Giorgadze, the academician-secretary of the department of animal husbandry and veterinary sciences of the academy, academician Jemal Gugushvili, the academician-secretary of the agricultural engineering scientific department of the academy took part in the work of the round table. Other participants were: Academician Revaz Makharoblidze, learned secretaries of scientific departments of the Academy: Doctor Marine Barvenashvili and Academician Lasha Dolidze, leading specialists of the Academy: Larisa Chaika, Dali Tarkhnishvili, Ketevan Chipashvili and Marika Mosashvili.

The head of the information center of the National Academy of Sciences of Georgia, Dr. Zurab Jibladze, informed the audience about the creation of the "Register of Learned Experts" portal, who noted that the National Academy of Sciences of Georgia, in cooperation with interested organizations, has been working on the creation of the presented portal for almost two years. The first working version has already been prepared, the main parameters have been determined, which will be instrumental in selecting learned experts.

Mr. Zurab Jibladze drew attention to the fact that the number of so called “experts” has increased whose professionalism and qualifications often raise certain questions. Therefore, it was necessary to create a single base in the country, where capable scientists-specialists of various fields would gather, whose competence would not raise any doubt. Accordingly, a person with a scientific degree and/or other scientific titles, whose competence will be confirmed by the recognized results of his scientific-practical work, should be called a “learned expert”.

As regarding the purpose of the registry of learned experts, it is to provide an efficient mechanism for governmental bodies, local governments, the business sector, research institutions and other decision-makers, and for all who wish to obtain information, consultations and relevant expert services for making the right and optimal decisions can have an easy uccess to relevant information with the help of the portal.

Then Mr. Zurab Jibladze presented to the audience the working version of the "Register of Learned Experts" portal, filters (direction, field, subfield, region, foreign country), which will make it possible to find an expert according to the desired field and location.

At the end of the presentation, the speaker noted that the presented "Register of Learned Experts" portal is still only a working version and the team working on it will be happy to take into account your comments and wishes.

The President of the Academy, Academician G. Aleksidze, Deputy President of the Academy, Coordinator of Scientific Departments, Academician Anatoli Giorgadze, Academician-Secretary of the Department of Agro-Engineering Sciences of the Academy, Academician Revaz Makharoblidze, who noted that very important, complex and large-scale work has been performed, and that the parameters by which the learned experts are selected , will reveal the true professionals of the field in the best way.

The work of the round table was summarized by the president of the Academy, Academician Guram Aleksidze. He thanked Mr. Zurab Jibladze for his visit and interesting presentation on behalf of himself and the attending community.

You can see the portal of the "Register of Learned Experts".             On the website: rle.gtu.ge

Memorandum of Understanding

A Memorandum between the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Georgia and the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture was signed.

            On February 3, of this year, a meeting was held in the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia between the leadership of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Georgia and the Ministry.

    From the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Georgia, the following participated in the meeting: President of the Academy, Academician Guram Aleksidze, Vice-President of the Academy, Academician Givi Japaridze, Advisor to the Presidium and Consultant of Scientific Directions Academician Nodar Chitanava, Deputy President of the Academy, Academician Anatoli Giorgadze.

   From the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia - Minister Mr. Otar Shamugia, First Deputy Minister Mr. Giorgi Khanishvili, Deputy Minister Mr. Solomon Pavliashvili, Deputy Minister Mr. Apolon Kakabadze, Mr. Tengiz Kalandadze, Head of Policy Coordination and Analytics Ms. Ekaterine Zviadadze, Advisor to the Minister Mr. Omar Kacharava.

         The meeting was held with the following agenda:

1. Greeting from the Minister Otar Shamugia, and Academician Guram Aleksidze, President of the Academy.

2. Discussion and signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Academy of Agriculture and Sciences of the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture of Georgia. Speaker:

Academician Nodar Chitanava, Advisor to the Presidium of the Academy.

3. Main goals and objectives of the Memorandum of Cooperation.

Speaker: Vice-President of the Academy, Academician Givi Japaridze.

4. Information of the Academy on the possibility of introducing new methods of combating the plant pest "Pharosana" in the western regions of Georgia.

Speaker: President of the Academy, Academician Guram Aleksidze.

5. Expansion and activation of mutual cooperation between the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Georgia and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, based on the current problems of agricultural products and food production.

Speaker: Deputy Minister Giorgi Khanishvili.

Presidium session

 On January 31 of this year, in the conference hall of the Georgian Academy of Sciences,

A presidium session was held, where the following issues were discussed:

1. Information about the scientific activities carried out by the Academy's Department of Agronomic Sciences in 2022. Speaker: Academician-Secretary of the Department of Agronomic Sciences of the Academy, Academician Gogola Margvelashvil.

2. Information on the scientific activities carried out by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences of the Academy in 2022;

Speaker: Academician-Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences of the Academy, Academician Jemal Gugushvili;

3. Information about the scientific activities carried out by the Department of Agro-Engineering Sciences of the Academy in 2022; Speaker: Academician-Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Engineering Sciences of the Academy, Academician Revaz Makharoblidze;

4. Information on the scientific activities carried out by the Academy's Department of Food Safety and Food Technology Sciences in 2022 ; Speaker: Academician-Secretary of the Department of Food Safety and Food Technology Sciences of the Academy, Academician Zurab Tskitishvili

5. Information about the scientific activities carried out by the Department of Environmental Protection and Forestry Sciences of the Academy in 2022. Speaker: Academician-Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection and Forestry Sciences of the Academy, Academician Revaz Chagelishvili

6. Information about the scientific activities carried out by the Department of Economic Sciences of the Academy in 2022; Speaker: Academician-Secretary of the Department of Economic Sciences of the Academy, Academician Omar Keshelashvili.

A commission Session of Innovations

On January 25, a commission session was held, at which Tsinuli Natsvlishvili, engineer-technologist of fruit and vegetable processing, expert of "Agrohub" presented a report: "The role of the processing enterprise of the supermarket "Agrohub" in the creation of innovative products". 

The speaker noted that the goal of establishing the company "Agrohab" in December 2016 was to provide the population with high-quality natural food, including the preserves and semi-finished products obtained from the processing of raw materials purchased from local farmers. "Agrohub" is an attractive environment for developing innovative formulas and creating new products. Currently, in the production of sauces, jams, boiled fruit and others from various fruits, both classic and the latest technologies are used, which ensure the preservation of the nutritional and biological values of the end product.

Agrohub's processing plant produces products free of artificial additives, raw materials are selected from conscientious farmers who follow the basic agro-rules and norms, starting from the soil processing and ending with the harvest. The high quality of raw materials encourages us to produce healthy and useful products from it. No preservatives and dyes are used in the technology.

In developed countries, they are well aware of the price of health and the importance of organic products; the process of production of ecologically pure food products is underway. In many regions of Georgia, special attention is paid to the preservation of natural conditions, natural products has been produced in a traditional way, and we also choose this path; Our Company refuses to use genetically modified raw materials. Several innovative products have been created in "Agrohub" with the aim of providing the consumer with various food products with healthy and attractive organoleptic properties.

It should be noted that the capacity of the enterprise is gradually increasing. In the near future, a processing plant equipped with modern equipment will be put into operation, which will allow us to further expand the range of finished products. We are planning to launch a variety of diabetic, children's, breakfast preserves - the order comes from the customer themselves, so we are all committed to achieving this goal!

The following participants participated in the discussion held after the report: Academician Givi Japaridze, Dr. Gocha Tsofurashvili, Head of the Department of the Ministry of Agriculture Tengiz Kalandadze, Dr. Ekaterina Katsitadze, Dr. Erna Kalandia, Dr. Merab Zhgenti, Professor Anzor Meskishvili, "Agrohub" operational director Nini Nanadze, PhD student Bidzina Imnadze, Academy scholarship holder Giorgi Kutelia, Academicians: Nodar Chitanava, Aleksandre Didebulidze, who noted important successes in the distribution of innovative products in the supermarket market.

After the session, a viewing and tasting of the exhibition of innovative canning products of "Agrohub" was held; Walnut jam, kiwi sauce and other products were very popular and deserve high praise.