UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) with financial support of Austrian Development Agency (ADA) provided Zugdidi Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture with equipment and reagents that give it the capacity to study the microbiological and chemical properties of hazelnuts.

Hazelnut producers and all the interested parties now have the opportunity to conduct hazelnut research at the local level. This will facilitate the creation of a unified cycle of hazelnut production, processing and marketing. In addition, it will help to decrease the price of hazelnuts and increase their export potential.
Irakli Guledani, the Laboratory’s Director, notes that the number of samples have been increased by 15% this year.

Minister of Agriculture of Georgia Levan Davitashvili visited the ministry’s regional laboratory in Zugdidi. The Zugdidi laboratory offers its services to nine municipalities in Samegrelo–Zemo Svaneti region, including research in the food industry as well as diagnosis of different animal diseases.

Since 2013, the Ministry of Agriculture has actively worked to expand the range of research at the regional level. In January 2016, Zugdidi laboratory was granted accreditation by ANAB, an international body that certifies laboratories.