Songulashvili: “New Testing Methods Aligned with International Standards Are Being Consistently Introduced at the State Agricultural Laboratory”
Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Davit Songulashvili, visited the newly opened building of the State Agricultural Laboratory in Tbilisi, where the laboratory's director, Irakli Guledeni, introduced the minister to the improved working processes resulting from enhanced infrastructure and technical capacity.
As Minister Songulashvili emphasized, strengthening the laboratory network is of utmost importance and remains an ongoing process.
“Strengthening the laboratory system involves several components — modern infrastructure, up-to-date technologies, and technical equipment. New research methods that meet international standards and are validated are constantly being implemented. Our laboratory specialists regularly undergo training in partner laboratories abroad,” stated Songulashvili.
The minister highlighted the importance of timely and accurate diagnostics at every stage of agricultural production, noting that the additional workspaces in the new facility significantly enhance the laboratory’s capabilities, particularly in the field of food safety.
“Timely and precise diagnostics are crucial throughout the agricultural value chain. Our primary goal is to ensure our population has access to healthy products, to supply our domestic market with quality goods, and to make Georgian products competitive on international markets,” he added.
According to Irakli Guledeni, the laboratory's director, the upgraded infrastructure supports high-quality and efficient research, ensuring the effective operation of the agricultural sector. He also noted that the new laboratory space includes facilities for testing the biodegradability of polyethylene bags, which is a key element of environmental policy and supports the introduction of green standards in practice.
The State Agricultural Laboratory network includes the central laboratory in Tbilisi, two zonal laboratories (in Kutaisi and Akhaltsikhe), and 10 regional laboratories. These facilities conduct food and drinking water testing, and diagnostics for animal and plant diseases.
Notably, the laboratory holds National Reference Laboratory status, which authorizes it to perform reference testing on disputed samples. It is also accredited under the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard, ensuring all research is conducted in full compliance with international requirements.
