Meeting of the representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and the members of the Academy. On march 17, 2016, the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia hosted the president of the Academy, Acad. G. Aleksidze, Vice-president, Acad. G. Japaridze, Academicians. G. Margvelashvili, R. Makharoblidze, Z. Tskitishvili, J. Gugushvili, O. Keshelashvili, R. Chagelishvili, T. Kurashvili, Dr. A. Giorgadze, Assistant of the president, T. Epitashvili. The meeting attended the Minister O. Danelia, Deputy Ministers I. Nozadze, L. Davitashvili, G. Tsopurashvilui, and D. Galegashvil, also consultants and chief specialists.

 The main goal of the meeting was to sign the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Academy and the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia.

The aim of the Memorandum is to stipulate the tight creative relationship between the the departments of the two entities in order to respond effectively to the challenges existed in agrarian sciences and industry. According to the Memorandum, the two institutions will take part in the process of working out the agrarian policy of the country, in outlining the strategic directions, and setting up action plan for implementation of the activities envisaged by agrarian policy. They will also develop field related programs, as well as monitoring and methodological approaches; define the possibilities of distribution of technologies taking into consideration the industrial –economic distinctiveness of each region.

 The moment of signing the Memorandum The forms of the Cooperation are as follows:

- Preparation of the recommendations regarding rehabilitation and consolidation of the soils;

- Preparation of the recommendations regarding the provision of mass producers with credits,and optimization of mechanization of agriculture and other spheres of infrastructure; foundation of the small and medium scale industries, raising the effectiveness of the cooperatives; The parties will participate in arrangement of field related agrarian programs, and in activation of the Training Center at the Academy. They will mutually take part in preparing necessary documentation, including annual plans, also in publication of text books and other literature, exchange materials on the web-sites regarding licenses, agro-rules, recommendations and joint activities.

    The Memorandum is in forth within five years from the date of the signing, and it can be prolonged provided the both sides agree.

     The President of GAAS, Acad. Aleksidze, and the Minister of Agriculture Otar Danelia

After the official procedure when the parties were informed about the main Provisions of the Memorandum, an exchange of the opinions took place , in which the participants from both parties took place.

    The Memorandum was signed by Minister of agriculture O. Danelia, and the president of the Academy, Acad. G. Aleksidze.

    With this act – the government institution and the scientists sighing the document and agree on cooperation – Georgian Government expressed his wish to promote close and active relationship between science and implementation which will play a fundamental role in development of Georgian Agriculture.

On March 11, 2016 a regular annual meeting of Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences to report on the results of yearly work carried out by the researchers, the members of the Academy, was held. The meeting agenda was as follows:

1.Presentation on the results of yearly scientific work of the Academy; The presenter – GAAS President, Acad. G. Aleksidze;

2. Scientific research work conducted by the scientific departments of the Academy in 2015, and the plans for 2016 academic year; Presenters: the academicians and secretaries of the Academy.

3.Current issues:

Some particular changes introduced in the Charter of the Academy;

Presenter the Vice-President Givi Japaridze;

The meeting was attended by the members of the Academy and invited guests from the ministries of Education, Agriculture, Ajara Ministry of Agriculture, the research centers of the Ministry of Agriculture, the representatives of Kutaisi State and Gori Study Universities, and other participants.

    The first presenter, acad. G. Aleksidze, informed the meeting participants about the changes in the structure of the Academy, the scientific programs of the Academy and scientific-research work outlined in accordance with those programs. The presenter referred to the issues discussed by the Academic Board, the memorandums of partnership signed with other structures in 2015; Different activities including conferences, seminars, round tables; He talked about the work conducted by field national coordinators; made a review of scientific articles, text-books, monographic works, inventions and patents and practical recommendations prepared by the Academy members; Referred to the activities carried out by the Training Centers of Raising Qualification of Agrarian specialists; and finally informed about innovations in the infrastructure of the Academy. At the end of his speech, Acad. Aleksidze spoke about the future plans and challenges of the Academy. (See the full text of the President of GAAS on the link).

In regards with the second issue on the agenda, the academicians G. Margvelashvili, J. Gugugshvili, R. Makharoblidze, N. Baghaturia, Z. Tskitishvili and O. Keshelashvili made speeches.

The opinions round the topics of the presentations were stated by Prof. Tamaz Marsagishvilu, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Science and Education, Gocha Tsopurashvili , Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, and Iuri Nozadze, Ioseb Abuladze, first Deputy of Ajara Ministry of Agriculture, Prof. Roland Kopaliani, Vice-Rector of Kutaisi State University, Levan Ujmajuridze, Director of Scientific- Research Center, Valeri Sukhishvili, Rector, Professor of Gori Study University.

      The participants of the meeting positively evaluated the scientific work carried out by the Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

      On current issues of the present agenda a presentation was made by Vice- President, Acad. Givi Japaridze who draw attention to the necessity of introducing some changes in the Academy Charter and introduced to the members the content of the planned changes..

      The meeting participants unanimously supported the proposal.

     The Honorable diplomas of the Academy were conferred to the authors of the best scientific works in the field of Agriculture, particularly to acad. T. Urushadze, Dr. A. Tkhelidze and G. Gambashidze for their book “ Georgian Soils.” Academician of Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences G. Tkemaladze “ The Fundamentals of Bio-chemistry”; The Professor of Technical University, Doctor of technical Sciences Irakli Kruashvili for his scientific work: “Landslides and the Methods of fighting”. Academician of GAAS Nugzar Baghaturia for “ Wine Production and Aging”; Doctor of Medical Sciences, K. Dadiani for her scientific work: “For the Assessment of Chemical Contamination of Environment”; The Academician of GAAS Nodar Chitanava “Georgian Agriculture – Transformation, Problems and Perspectives.” .

The president of the Academy congratulated Acad. Iuza Vasadze with the anniversary of his 80th birthday, awarded with the Honorable Diploma and wished him long and healthy life, fruitful scientific and pedagogical work.

     Meeting held at the Academy was dedicated to the 3 March – Mothers’ Day and the 8 March - International Women’s Day.

On the 7th of March, in the Meeting Hall of the GAAS, the Administration of the Academy together with the local organization of Trade Unions organized a meeting dedicated to the International Women’s Day and Mothers’ Day. See a link with more information.

Acad. G. Aleksidze delivered the paper on the Forum

     The President of Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Acad. Guram Aleksidze from February 29 – till March 2, was in Bishkek ( Kirgizia), where he participated in International Forum dedicated to the problems of food safety and soil fertility in Eurasia. The Forum organizers were The World Bank, Global Forum, Food and Agriculture Organization, Eurasia Fund, “CACAARI”, “ICARDA”, “CIMMYT”, “IFPRI” , and other donor organizations. The participants were: the representatives of all countries from Central Asia and South Caucasus, Russia (Lomonosov State University), Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Turkey and other countries representatives.

     Two sections were working: Food safety and soil protection. Acad. Guram Aleksidze presented his article on: “The Priorities of Agrarian Researches in Georgia.” The Head of Melioration Department of Georgian Ministry of Agriculture Ekaterine Sanadze spoke about “Soil Protection in Georgia. Also the General Director of Farmers’ House Leri Gigineishvili discussed the problems of Georgian farmers on the forum.

      At the end of the Forum the Bishkek Declaration was adopted by the participants. A group of International Forum participants.