Georgian Forest Nurseries to Introduce International Standards

Georgian nursery production should be brought closer to international standards, as evidenced by the Association Agreement with the European Union. The new quality standards will become mandatory for Georgian nursery farms from 2024.

The new requirements will limit the import of poor quality seedlings, the introduction of standards and new regulations will open the way for Georgian nurseries to market their products in the EU and other countries.

The European Union and FAO are helping Georgian nurseries to implement international standards. To this end, a three-day webinar organized by the FAO was held as part of the EU's innovative project. Within the framework of online training, the participants studied the standards of production of high quality, certified seedlings and discussed the creation of a national system for certification of nursery materials in Georgia.

According to Nunu Mosiashvili, FAO Project Manager, it is vital for Georgian farmers to purchase locally produced, certified fruit and grape seedlings. "FAO and the European Union continue to support local nursery farms to improve their product quality and meet international standards," Mosiashvili said.

The webinars are organized by FAO within the framework of the EU Innovative Project for Privacy Competitiveness in Georgia. The project is funded by the FAO and other UN agencies, along with the private sector and business associations, with EU funding. The total budget of the project reaches 6 million dollars.