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Tekle Zakalashvili participated in the first Cryoconnect group workshop held in Tirana (Albania)

Tekle Zakalashvili, Head of the Plant Microclonal (in vitro) Propagation and Virus-Free Planting Material Research Division of the LEPL Scientific-Research Center of Agriculture, participated in the first working meeting of the Cryoconnect group held in Tirana (Albania). Cryoconnect is a regional initiative aimed at sharing experiences in plant cryopreservation and creating a common genetic bank in the Balkans and the Caucasus, with Georgia representing the Caucasus. The meeting was held at the Academy of Sciences in Tirana, where the participating countries shared their national experiences and current activities. Tekle Zakalashvili gave a presentation on the work of the in-vitro laboratory of the Scientific Research Center, the achieved results and future goals. The initial stage of the cryopreservation process involves in-vitro propagation of plants, followed by freezing the material in liquid nitrogen, which is critically important for its long-term storage and ensuring genetic stability. The project, supported by the European Cooperation Programme for the Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources – ECPGR, will run from 2025 to 2028 and aims to enhance regional cooperation, protect critically important genetic resources and transfer them to future generations.