On March 11-14, 2019, an International Conference was held in Tbilisi, organized by Food National Agency which was dedicated to Phito - sanitari methods of fight against Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. The researchers from 26 countries (Asia, US, Russia, Australia) including Georgia participated in the work of the Conference.

From the Academy of Agricultural Sciences the President of GAAS, Academician G. Aleksidze was invited to the Conference, also Academicians J. Gugushvili, and G. Margvelashvili, and Scientific Secretary M. Barvenashvili.

Levan Davitashvili, the Minister of Agriculture greeted the participants with introductory speech. He stated that the Government of Georgia is actively involved in the measures taken against the Bug which is a big challenge for agriculture of the country.

The Conference discussed different activities and methods applied by Georgian researchers with active participation of the Ministry of Agriculture against the bug. The Document worked out by the Conference on the problem will be further discussed by UN Commission on Food and Agriculture phyto- sanitary measures.

The Conference participants learned about the experience accumulated during the fight against the bug: about 790 000 hectares of agricultural land was processed in 27 municipalities in 523 villages in the following regions: Ajara, Samegrelo, Guria, Imereti.

The program 2019 of fight against the bug was based on 2017-18 year experience and the recommendations of leading Georgian and foreign researchers.

The aim of the program is to protect agricultural product and diminish economic losses. Four major directions in the fight against the bug were underlined.

1. Promotion of active information company to increase population awareness around the problem;

2. Monitoring the territory of spread of the bug and population increase;

3. Control measures –medical treatment against the vermin;

4. Scientific- research activities: study of the biology, reveal of biological predators, and identification of effective biological treatment against the bug.

Within the program, effective measures of fight against hazelnut was discussed. Also the Government will deliver technical means to hazelnut producers to continue effectively a long term fight against the bug.

Besides the Georgian Ministry of Environment and Agriculture, local government bodies and non-governmental organizations are also involved in the process.

International Conference was held with active support of European Institutional Development Program (CIB).

On March 12, 2019, GAAS Academic Scientific Council and with participation of staff members of research Department of Veterinary, a Round Table was organized at the Museum of Sericulture on the topic: Prospects of Development of Sericulture in Georgia”. 

   A presentation on the topic was made by the director pof the Museum Mrs. Nino Kuprava who talked about the foundation of the Museum, existed situation and perspectives of its development.

    Dr. Nargiz Baramidze presented the problem of the present state of sericulture in Georgia.

  The representatives of the Academy examined with great interest the exhibition and inspected interesting samples and collections of paints, cocoons, silk egg and fabric which describe the historical development of sericulture branch in Georgia.  

      Speeches were delivered by Professor R. Kikvidze, Doctor of Veterinary M. Kereselidze, and Dr. N. Mamukelashvili who discussed past achievemnets in this branch, as well as the present problems and thanked key presenters for sharing interesting information. 

      The Round Table work was summarized by Academician-Secretary of the Academy Elguja Gugushvili.

On March 6, 2019, at the Academy of Agricultural Sciences, a Meeting of the Commission on Agrarian Innovations which dealt with “ Reforms in Forests in Georgia and the problems improving legislative basis and regulations” . Key speaker was Natia Iordanashvili, the Deputy of National Forest Agency and Teimuraz Kandelaki, Professor of Georgian Agrarian University, Merab Dvali, an expert, representative of law project group.

            The meeting was attended by the President of GAAS, Academician Guram Aleksidze, Vice President, Academician Givi Japaridze, Deputy President, coordinator of Academic Departments Dr. A. Giorgadze, also Academicians A. Didebulidze, Gocha Tsepurishvili, Expert, Deputy Head of Commission on Agrarian Innovations, Academician Nodar Chitanava, Councel of the Presidium of the Academy, Revaz Chagelishvili, Academician – Secretary of Forest Scientific Department of the Academy.  Among many invited guest were the academicians, forest specialists and students and other persons involved in forest management problems. 

Academician A. Didebulidze read out the Meeting Agenda and GAAS President G. Aleksidze greeted the participants with introductory speech in which he stated that forming of Commission of Agrarian Innovations is a new format in the work of the Academy and its main purpose is to:

1. a.collect information about the organizations and researchers working in the field of agriculture and analyze the issues and problems they deal with to be presented and recommended it to the Government;
2. b.cooperate with private businesses. It is important to keep business circles informed and to state clearly the importance of close cooperation between science and business activities, as well as active involvement of business circle in researches.  

The next presenter was Natia Iordanashvili, the Deputy of National Forest Agency who dealt with almost all major problems and present day situation in Georgian forests, as well as the ways of their effective management. The need for reforms caused by a number of reasons and some recent news regarding Forest Code, namely public discussions round the Code, the further activities and expected results were also discussed by Iordanashvili.

Diverse  opinions about Forest Code was expressed by Academician N. Chitanava, Expert M. Dvali,  Professor T. Kandelaki followed by discussion and exchange of arguments.

The meeting was summed up by Academician Givi Japaridze. He mentioned that adoption of the Forest Code is a very important issue for the further development of the country, therefore, it will be a proper approach if the persons who wishe to introduce some changes in the Code could deliver their opinions and suggestions in a written form in order to revise, analyze and compare them and prepare final version of the document to present it to the Government of Georgia in a more refined, full and agreeable format. 

On March 7, 2019, Trade Unions of GAAS held a Celebratory Meeting dedicated to the Mother’s Day and International Day of Women Solidarity – the 8^th of March.

The meeting was attended by the President of GAAS, Academician Guram Aleksidze, Vice President, Academician Givi Japaridze, Deputy President, coordinator of Academic Departments A. Giorgadze, also Academicians O. Keshelashvili and J. Gugushvili. Female representatives of the Academy were nearly all present at the meeting and listened with interest to the speaker Giorgi Diasamidze – the Head of Georgian Trade Unions uniting the employees working in the agrarian, trade and industry sectors.

The special meeting was opened with the speech of Givi Mosashvili –  Head of  GAAS trade unions who spoke about organization and changes in management of the Unions. 

 Giorgi Diasamidze – the Head of Georgian Trade Unions uniting the employees working in the agrarian, trade and industry sectors congratulated the meeting participants with International Women’s Day and wished success in their professional and private life. The heart of the speech was some recent approaches to the Union’s work, active involvement of the members in different activities and strengthening of the role of the Union in the fight against social and gender inequality, protection of the rights of employed. At the end of the meeting, G. Diasamidze addressed the needs of one of GAAS employees, E. Migriauli and delivered one hundred lari as a support from Trade Unions.

 Academician Omar Keshelashvili congratulated with the celebration, spoke about the woman’s phenomenon in Georgian mentality and read his poem dedicated to women.   

A lot of warm greetings were expressed during the meeting by G. Aleksidze, G. Japaridze and GAAS members, also Irina Bakhtadze, Ketevan Chipashvili and others spoke about the significance of the day and expressed thanks to the administration and trade unions for organizing wonderful meeting.

Interesting video and photos takes during different activities were shown during the meeting which ended with beautiful complementary cards with the text of congratulation and a poem of Keshelashvili “Ladies - you are the roses of our hearts!”