Agrosphere Revolutionizes Local Wheat Production in Georgia

A few years ago, Georgian farmers faced limited options for wheat seed material, primarily relying on lower-quality imports from Russia, resulting in poor yields. This landscape has transformed dramatically since Agrosphere, in collaboration with Austria's leading seed producer Saatbau, began locally producing superior wheat varieties.

"We initiated our wheat seed production project with Saatbau in 2014, aiming to replace inferior seeds with high-quality varieties to enhance local farmers' yields," explains Aleksi Zazikashvili, head of Agrosphere's seed production department. Through this partnership, Georgian farmers now have access to diverse wheat varieties specifically adapted to the local climate, meeting the unique agricultural challenges of the region and yielding grains with excellent baking properties. Each variety is also certified according to Georgian and European standards.

Saatbau's trial wheat varieties are cultivated in demonstration plots across various regions to evaluate their performance. "Based on these results, we select the most promising varieties, which undergo a rigorous processing protocol before reaching the market," Zazikashvili adds.

Achieving high-quality seed material also depends on proper soil preparation and plant care. "That's why we use innovative fertilizers from Yara and plant protection products from Bayer, which are not only effective but also environmentally safe and health-conscious," Zazikashvili mentions.

At Agrosphere's local wheat facility, stringent procedures for grain processing and packaging are meticulously followed. Post-harvest, the seeds are stored in specialized silos for cleaning and are cooled to maintain optimal conditions for plant germination. They undergo multiple rounds of processing to remove impurities and damaged grains, concluding with a treatment using fungicide and insecticide to enhance resistance to pests, diseases, and environmental stressors like frost and drought.

"Through these methods, we produce seed material of the highest quality that effectively combats various agricultural challenges," Zazikashvili states.

Agrosphere currently offers five different wheat varieties, enabling farmers to select seeds best suited to their specific needs and conditions.

Currently, special pricing is available. The second reproduction of 1 kg of Amicus and Gallus seeds is available for just 1 GEL, and the first reproduction of all five varieties for 1.35 GEL. With limited supplies, interested buyers are encouraged to act quickly.