On the 10th of June, at Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences a Round Table was organized which was dedicated to the problem of preparing qualified specialists in agrarian sciences to discussion of future perspectives.
           Besides the members of the Academy, the invited guests, such as, Prof. G. Kvartskhava, the Dean of Bio-system Engineering Faculty, and TSU professors I. Kruashvili and G. Gagoshidze , D. Gubaladze. Z. Lobjhanidze, the deans of Agrarian University – Makaridze and Chkuaseli, and others also were present at the Round Table discussion.
             From the side of the GAAS, the members who are involved in pedagogical activities in higher education institutions participated in the work of the Round Table; academicians: G margvelashvili, R. Makharoblidze, J. Katsitaze, A. Didebulidze, J. Gugushvili, A. Giorgadze.
     The Round Table was opened by G. Japaridze, the Vice President speech focused on significance if the subject of discussion. E. Shapakidze presented the information regarding current situation in the field of agrarian education and mentioned that there are professional, governmental and non-governmental /private colleges functioning in the country; the total number of the colleges is 71 out of which 40% are focused on agrarian education. Also, there are 96 higher educational institutions and 6 of them are state agrarian universities and one is a private agrarian university. Besides, 8 private universities have agrarian programs. It should be mentioned that there is a big gap in the direction of bio-engineering education; there are very few doctorate students and no master degree students in this direction.
            According to information of regional consulting centers, there is a lack of specialists in the field of agro-engineering. Considering the fact that the regions are now provided with the agro techniques, and machines from 13 different countries, the problem raised by the regions look very serious.
Regarding the abovementioned problem different opinions were expressed by the Round Table participants who finally came to the following conclusion:
1. The Academy should regularly discuss agrarian educational programs of technical University and other higher educational institutions; prepare documents with relevant remarks and proposals and sent to the Accreditation Center.
2. The Academy should be involved in the monitoring process of agrarian professional development programs with permission of the Ministry of Sciences and Education;
3. The members of the Academy should be involved in preparation of the text books of agrarian direction;
4. The higher institutions which have signed the memorandum on partnership with the Academy first have to check the validity of their education programs at the Academy.
5. It is advisable to present the information about the pedagogical activities of the members of the Academy at the meetings;
6. The exited programs in: agro-engineering, agronomy, technology should be revised and in some cases fully changed.
7. On the basis of the GAAS, the Commission which will study the existed situation in the higher education institutions and prepare the remarks and conclusions to be presented to the Government regarding the study programs in agrarian field was set up.
8. The Round Table participants gave a negative assessment to the existed project regarding education field classification project and adopted a resution to address the Ministry of Education to revise the classification considering the opinion of the academy members.

On the 3rd June, 2016, in the conference hall of Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences - Round Table was organized on the topic: “ IFOAM organic product standards, Academy and PGS”
The Round table was opened with the speech delivered by GAAS president Guram Aleksidze. The participants were: Elguja Shapakidze, the Head of Academic Department, the Deputy of the President, A. Giorgadze, member-correspondent of the Academician T. Turmanidze. Also Nodar Khatiashvili, the Deputy Director of the Scientific—Research center, and the founders of bio-rational technologies research center, directors Nikoloz Zazashvili, Nodar Mindiashvili, Mikheil Chichaghua, Dr. Tamar kacharava.
The following persons made presentations: Tengiz Jaliashvilu ( Chief presenter) – Dr. of Biological Sciences, Senior researcher of bio-rational technologies research center, also Guram Gejadze, economist and organizer, Micro-prim , Ltd founder and director; A. Nodia, expert and founder of information technologies consulting company; IT expert G. Zazashvili.
The presentations were followed by discussions during which the following problems were discussed: In what respect the IFOAM organic standards are better than Allimentarius? Why is it important to produce and certify organic products by IFOAM PGS? Why and where should IFOAM academy be founded? How to make make use of the regulation N 198 which addresses the problem of supply of bio-products in the framework of free trade with the Europe?
The Round table work was summarized by GAAS president Guram Aleksidze, and said that the Academy will prepare the document to be presented to the government regarding working out study and training programs to develop bio-organic products and prepare academic staff and students at the universities, particularly, this program could be implemented at I. Tsinamzgvrishvili Agrarian College.

    Photo: Academician Rezo Jabnidze and the Rector of Pamukale University Husein Agja      May 23-27, 2016, Antalya, Turkey, an International Symposium on Biodiversity was held in which around one hundred scientists and researchers participated from 16 countries. The guests were greeted the government representatives, Pamukale University Rector, Vice – municipality head of Antalya, Rectors of Belarus Agrarian University and Batumy University , also GAAS academician Revaz Jabnidze, Azerbaijan research Institute Director, Academician T. Mamadov, Rector of the university of Bio-diversity, India, the Dean of US Institute of Massachusets, Prof. V. Sherbrook.
         The conference worked in three sections, and one of them was in plant culture, headed by GAAS academician Revaz Jabnidze, and Rector of the University of Bio-diversity, India, co-director of the section was academician of, the Director of Bio-resources, academician T. Talibov. Totally, 35 articles were presented at the section.
                  The presentation of R. Jabnidze “Adaptation and acclimatization peculiarities of the early –ripening breeds of tangerine introduced into Ajara region” raised interest among the Conference participants, and the researcher was awarded with the certificate of honors and a present.

       On the 13th May, 2016, in Batumi, A memorandum on partnership between the Georgian Academy of Agriculture and Batumi State University was signed. The Memorandum was signed from the side of the Academy, GAAS President Guram aleksidze, and from the side of Shota Rustaveli Batumi University the Deputy of the Rector – Dr. Merab Khalvashi. The ceremony was attended by the deputy head Ms. Natela Tsiklashvili and the members of the Academic Board. Also, . papunadze and R. jabnidze, professors from Tbilisi, T. Kacharava, journalist of the newspaper “Ajara”, R. Mskhiladze and others.
     The memorandum will stipulate cooperation between the two institutions in the field of science and education, mutual assistance of the professors and specialists in the field of agriculture, as well as in raising qualification of specialists. In the result of the cooperation the young specialists and professionals will get timely information about the recent achievements in theory, innovations and technology, as well as participate in international and local forums, and be involved in agrarian projects together with their colleagues.
It was proposed that Batumi University GAAS on Sep 28-30, 2016

Photo: The memorandum is signed by GAAS President Acad. G. Aleksidze and the Vice rector of Batumy Univsity Prof. Merab Khalvashi

Photo: President G. Aleksidze meets Batumi University Academic Board members

Photo: After signing the memorandum