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The Director of the Scientific-Research Center of Agriculture participated in the 20th session of the FAO International Treaty on Genetic Resources in Rome

Levan Ujmajuridze, Director of the Scientific-Research Center of Agriculture, participated in the 20th session of the International Treaty on Genetic Resources of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, held in Rome, Italy. Georgia joined the said international treaty in 2019. The session was preceded by regional meetings of representatives of European countries.

The Scientific-Research Center of Agriculture has been a member of the European Cooperative Program on Plant Genetic Resources (ECPGR) on behalf of Georgia since 2018; the Center is also responsible for posting information about the plant gene pool in Georgia in the International Catalogue of Plant Genetic Resources of European Countries (EURISCO).

The meetings held within the session emphasized the key issues of developing flexible mechanisms for the protection of plants, animals, aquaculture, microorganisms, invertebrates, agricultural beneficial insects, especially natural pollinators - species, varieties, populations - adapted to climate change, which will ensure their spread in farms, preservation of biodiversity and food security.

The special role of the countries participating in the international agreement in the development and implementation of national strategies and action plans was noted, which concern the protection of genetic resources, soil fertility management, rational use of water resources, conducting selection work, developing national seed production programs, creating a national seed bank, implementing information systems, and other issues.

As part of his visit to Italy, Levan Ujmajuridze also participated in an agricultural products exhibition organized by the Ministry of Agriculture of Italy, in which farmers from various regions of Italy participated.