Within the framework of the project “SEEDGUARD: Seed Guardians for Biodiversity, Agrobiodiversity, Ecosystem Services, and Climate Adaptation,” a two-day study tour was held in the municipalities of Mtskheta and Marneuli.
The study tour was organized by the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG) and involved representatives of local government associations from Bulgaria, Turkey, and Romania.
During the visit, foreign partners met with local farmers, seed producers, and agricultural entrepreneurs.
On April 10, the guests visited demonstration and trial bases of annual and perennial crops in the villages of Tsilkani and Jighaura in Mtskheta Municipality. Project participants received on-site information and learned about practices aimed at preserving and enhancing vineyard collections, old vegetable varieties, and traditional landscapes in Georgia.
On April 11, the delegation traveled to Marneuli Municipality, where they received detailed information about the work of local seed producers and farmers, as well as the achievements made through the use of modern wheat cultivation technologies in Georgia.
During the tour, foreign partners visited the women’s cooperative “Green Maradisi” in the village of Maradisi. They inspected a demonstration plot and learned about vegetable seedling production technologies and the operational processes of greenhouse farming on-site.
The study tour concluded at the “Modus” college, where delegation members were informed about the activities of seed producers and local agricultural entrepreneurs in Marneuli Municipality, as well as the educational resources available to citizens.
The project is being implemented with co-financing from the European Union and involves organizations from four Black Sea countries: the Union of the Bulgarian Black Sea Local Authorities as the leading partner, Eastern Black Sea Development Agency (Turkey), the Association Global Project (Romania), and the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (Georgia).
The goal of SEEDGUARD is to protect the seeds of traditional vegetable varieties and species, enhance agrobiodiversity, promote the diversity of healthy food, strengthen food security, and support ecosystem services.
The project also aims to demonstrate a model that improves accessibility for vegetable producers – through the establishment of collections and seed banks of old traditional vegetable varieties, with the active participation of the local community.
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