First Conference of Winegrowers was Organized with the Support of Sakpatenti

Problems existing in the sector of winegrowers and ways of their solution were discussed during the First Conference of Winegrowers, held with the support of the National intellectual Property Centre of Georgia Sakpatenti in Gurjaani Municipality.

The event, held on May 18, 2019, was attended by Mr. Genadi Lebanidze, Acting Chairman of Sakpatenti, and Mr. David Gabunia, Head of the Training Centre, functioning of Sakpatenti. During the meeting the participants considered the system for protection and control of geographical indications and appellations of origin, familiarized with the experience of the leading countries and discussed the necessity of creation of powerful administrative and institutional mechanisms, which will facilitate capacity building and deepening of the knowledge of the national institutes and local specialists. Attention was focused on the approaches of the agricultural policy in the European Union, where geographical indications and appellations of origin are a significant means for guaranteeing quality and an efficient tool for development of viticulture and winemaking. It was stressed at the event that Georgia has a great potential from this viewpoint, as every region has its unique natural environment, as well as the traditional experience of production of goods protected by geographical indications, which will facilitate improvement of the social conditions of the regions and the economic development of the country, in general.

The Conference of Winegrowers, which was attended by more than 300 winegrowers, winemakers, representatives of the legislative, executive and local administration, as well as students of the agricultural direction, was held on the initiative of Mr. David Solghulashvili, Gurjaani majoritarian MP, and with the support of the National intellectual Property Centre of Georgia Sakpatenti, the National Wine Agency, Gurjaani Municipality City Hall and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia. In order to share information and experience between winegrowers and the Government it is planned to held a similar conference next year too.