Georgia’s Environment and Agriculture Minister Davit Songulashvili participated in the 44th FAO Conference, emphasising the country’s 8,000-year winemaking tradition and record agricultural exports as key elements of its agri-food strategy.

Speaking at the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation conference attended by representatives from all 194 member countries and nearly 50 ministers, Songulashvili highlighted Georgia’s focus on quality and uniqueness over mass production.

“Georgia holds a special place as the recognised birthplace of wine worldwide, with an 8,000-year uninterrupted tradition of winemaking,” Songulashvili said.

“The ancient kvevri winemaking method, still actively used today, has brought Georgia international recognition and was honoured by UNESCO,” the minister added.

The minister announced that Georgia’s agri-food exports reached a record USD 1.68 billion in 2024, reflecting consistent growth over the past decade in production volume and added value.

“Georgia’s agricultural strategy targets niche and high-quality production to distinguish Georgian products in the global market, rather than competing with mass-production countries,” Songulashvili explained.

The conference focused on the current state of agri-food systems and prospects for international cooperation.

Songulashvili emphasised Georgia’s readiness to continue active cooperation with FAO and member states, particularly in knowledge-based development, modern technology implementation, and climate-smart agriculture initiatives.

According to the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture press service, the partnership between Georgia and the FAO spans multiple years. The partnership included successful projects in food safety, climate-resilient agriculture, and inclusive development promotion.

Deputy Minister Lasha Dolidze accompanied Songulashvili to the Rome meeting.