Tbilisi (GBC) - On August 26-28, 2024, within the framework of the EU and Sweden-funded IV phase of the European Neighborhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) held a three-day training series in Tbilisi and Sighnaghi for Georgian almond and olive producers. The practical and theoretical masterclasses centred around food safety aspects with an emphasis on the needs and opportunities in the country. The event was organised in close cooperation with the Rural Development Agency and the Almond and Walnut Producers Association. The training series aimed to support the Georgian almond and olive sectors in establishing their food safety standards and hence facilitate export opportunities in the EU and beyond.
Over 70 professionals from the private and public sectors attended the educational sessions led by Juan Olivares, an international FAO expert on Almonds and Olives. Mr. Olivares held presentations, facilitated discussions, exchanged experiences, and shared relevant practical skills on almond and olive production and processing with the training participants. In line with the EU’s farm-to-fork strategy, the training provided guidance on advanced agricultural standards and upcoming legislation aligned with EU food safety and biosecurity regulations.
The international FAO expert covered topics such as orchard management and the HACCP system during the capacity-building sessions. For olive producers, he also focused on enhancing olive oil quality by implementing EU standards and best practices in primary production, as well as post-harvest and further processing.
Beyond the training sessions, the international FAO expert also visited several orchards and processing facilities, exchanged experiences with local stakeholders and assessed the current practices of primary production and processing of the two crop species in Georgia.
“EU supports local almond and olive producers in increasing their capacity to deliver higher-quality goods to the Georgian consumers while improving European market access. Institutionalising food safety standards generates the possibilities of considerably increasing agricultural company revenues from exporting goods, which also leads to creating higher-earning jobs for local specialists,” Denis Reiss, Programme Officer for Sustainable Food Systems at the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia.
“Advancing food safety and phytosanitary standards is key not only for the benefit of Georgian consumers but also to meet the requirements of importing countries thus ensuring that the Georgian almond and olive sectors truly achieve their potential and become one of Georgian agriculture sector’s economic driving forces. To accelerate this process through EU’s support, FAO has already trained 670 Georgian public sector representatives, students, and producers of agricultural goods focused on exporting their products. Such capacity building programs are fundamental resources for the country’s agriculture industry, and FAO is keen to continue supporting such efforts,” says Guido Agostinucci, FAO Programme Manager.
