კონფერენცია

∘ Tengiz Kavtaradze ∘
FOOD SAFETY PROBLEMS IN GEORGIA

Summary

Georgia has long lost the food security margin. According to the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat), the production of major agricultural products per capita decreases year by year and import increases, indicating that the country's food safety is violated.

Every country tries to seek the ways in advance and prepare for emergencies, ie, maintaining food security at minimum level in crisis situations. This is primarily related to products such as wheat, vegetables, etc. In this regard, the ongoing processes in Georgia are important. According to the Geostat data, compared to 2003, the average area of wheat was reduced twice, and weat production - by four times, in 2003, 225 thousand tons of wheat was received in the last years it reduced to 54 thousand tons, potato production decreased twice, fruit - by 50%, the grapes – by 30%, tea – by 5 times, vegetable - by 2,5 times, but instead of potato imports increased by the same volume, the import of vegetables - 10 times, meat import - 2 times and now at food market 60% of meat is imported. 85% of the total volume of vegetable fats is imported, as to the most important, we depend on 92% of wheat imports. In general, the share of import is 76% in food production as a whole.

Large quantities of genetically modified, low quality products come into the country, and the state does not have the means to check. Since Georgia is the only country where the functions of the Food Safety Service are limited, a local and imported products are often dangerous for human health.

For the critical level of Georgia's food security, below which are beginning to decrease and loose of food and economic safety, strengthening of dependence on imported supply quite realistic are following parametres: 800 thousand tons of cereals, 240 thousand tons of potatoes, 250 thousand tons of vegetables, 330 thousand tons of fruits and berries, 20 thousand tons of plant fats, 110 thousand tons of sugar, 85 tons of meat (live weight), 580 thousand tons of milk and 360 million eggs. This level should be the point of increase in food production growth rates and food market surpluses.

Thus, the food security strategy should be based on the food security policy of the country as a vital condition for the solid economic basis of the sovereignty and independence of the state (together with adequacy and accessibility principles). Focusing on self-reliance does not mean the country's self-isolation in the formation of food resources. On the contrary, talking is about improving production, for export and export structure, which along with the advantages of International Labor Suppliers and the use of favorable markets, will facilitate the strengthening of the food security of the state.

Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University Paata Gugushvili Institute of Economics International Scientific C O N F E R E N C E S "ECONOMY – XXI CENTURY"

E ISSN 2587 - 4691	∘ Tengiz Kavtaradze ∘ FOOD SAFETY PROBLEMS IN GEORGIA Summary Georgia has long lost the food security margin. According to the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat), the production of major agricultural products per capita decreases year by year and import increases, indicating that the country's food safety is violated. Every country tries to seek the ways in advance and prepare for emergencies, ie, maintaining food security at minimum level in crisis situations. This is primarily related to products such as wheat, vegetables, etc. In this regard, the ongoing processes in Georgia are important. According to the Geostat data, compared to 2003, the average area of wheat was reduced twice, and weat production - by four times, in 2003, 225 thousand tons of wheat was received in the last years it reduced to 54 thousand tons, potato production decreased twice, fruit - by 50%, the grapes – by 30%, tea – by 5 times, vegetable - by 2,5 times, but instead of potato imports increased by the same volume, the import of vegetables - 10 times, meat import - 2 times and now at food market 60% of meat is imported. 85% of the total volume of vegetable fats is imported, as to the most important, we depend on 92% of wheat imports. In general, the share of import is 76% in food production as a whole. Large quantities of genetically modified, low quality products come into the country, and the state does not have the means to check. Since Georgia is the only country where the functions of the Food Safety Service are limited, a local and imported products are often dangerous for human health. For the critical level of Georgia's food security, below which are beginning to decrease and loose of food and economic safety, strengthening of dependence on imported supply quite realistic are following parametres: 800 thousand tons of cereals, 240 thousand tons of potatoes, 250 thousand tons of vegetables, 330 thousand tons of fruits and berries, 20 thousand tons of plant fats, 110 thousand tons of sugar, 85 tons of meat (live weight), 580 thousand tons of milk and 360 million eggs. This level should be the point of increase in food production growth rates and food market surpluses. Thus, the food security strategy should be based on the food security policy of the country as a vital condition for the solid economic basis of the sovereignty and independence of the state (together with adequacy and accessibility principles). Focusing on self-reliance does not mean the country's self-isolation in the formation of food resources. On the contrary, talking is about improving production, for export and export structure, which along with the advantages of International Labor Suppliers and the use of favorable markets, will facilitate the strengthening of the food security of the state.