Georgia Showcases Agri-Food Potential at 44th FAO Conference in Rome – Davit Songulashvili Emphasizes Quality and Sustainability
“Georgia, as a small but diverse agricultural country, cannot compete in terms of volume with countries with massive production. That is why we focus on quality, uniqueness, and sustainability.
The country’s agricultural strategy aims to produce niche and high-quality products, which clearly distinguishes the Georgian agro-sector in the global market,” said Davit Songulashvili, Minister of Environment and Agriculture of Georgia, during his address at the 44th Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome.
Songulashvili is participating in the FAO’s 44th Conference as part of his working visit to the Italian capital.
Highlighting the potential of Georgia’s agri-food sector, the Minister drew special attention to Georgian wine.
“Georgia holds a special place as a world-renowned wine country with an 8,000-year-old uninterrupted tradition of wine production. The ancient qvevri winemaking method, which is still actively used today, has brought Georgia international recognition and has been recognized by UNESCO. This heritage is not just part of our past – it is a living tradition that still influences our economy, tourism, and cultural relations today,” said Songulashvili.
Addressing global agricultural challenges, the Minister reaffirmed Georgia’s readiness to cooperate with the FAO and its member countries to accelerate the transformation of agri-food systems through innovation, capacity building, and rural investment.
He stressed the need to leverage modern knowledge and technologies: “Knowledge-based development, the use of modern technologies in agriculture, and agri-food systems that achieve greater resilience and flexibility are priorities for Georgia.”
“In recent years, Georgia has taken concrete steps to modernize its agri-food sector. Over the past ten years, we have recorded consistent growth in agri-food exports, production volumes, and added value. In 2024, Georgia’s agri-food exports reached a record high of $1.68 billion. To support the development of an inclusive value chain and ensure that no farmer is left behind, the Government of Georgia continues to implement support programs,” he added.
The 44th FAO Conference brings together representatives from all 194 member countries and around 50 ministers. It serves as a key platform for dialogue on the current state of global agri-food systems and future cooperation.
Georgia was represented by Minister Davit Songulashvili and Deputy Minister Lasha Dolidze.
