Georgia's First Olive Nursery Opens, Aiming to Replace Imports

Georgia's first olive nursery has been opened by "Georgian Olives," with the long-term goal of completely replacing imports.

The company aims to grow one million Georgian seedlings by next year and is also working on breeding a variety of olive that won't require irrigation. They also plan to import different varieties from countries such as Turkey, Spain, Greece, Morocco, and Tunisia to create endemic blends.

The opening of the nursery follows the 2016 opening of the first processing plant in the Sighnaghi district, equipped with ultra-modern technologies that allow for the production of high-quality Georgian products. The factory can produce several hundred tons of olive marinade and extra virgin olive oil per season.

The company has invested millions of dollars in a 300-hectare olive plantation with 250,000 olive seedlings. Today, Georgian olive oil accounts for 10-12% of the local market and has replaced around 20-22% of imported products.

The opening of Georgia's first olive nursery is a significant step towards achieving the country's goal of producing more locally grown food and reducing dependence on imports. With the development of endemic blends and breeding of new varieties, the nursery is poised to play a vital role in the growth of Georgia's olive industry.