UNDP Resident Representative in Georgia, Louisa Vinton, and Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Nino Tandilashvili, visited the village of Asureti in eastern Georgia and joined the harvest of endemic Georgian wheat varieties – Dika and Shavpkha – preserved and cultivated by the Association of Georgian Wheat Growers.

With support from UNDP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Association regenerated endemic and landrace seeds, first in nursery plots and then on 50 hectares of land. Training and consultations were delivered to wheat growers, aiming to engage more farmers in revitalising and preserving agricultural heritage.

Georgia’s unique grains, praised for their agricultural resilience, nutritive value, and flavour profiles, are attracting growing attention from wheat producers and bread bakers. Their regeneration is a priority outlined in Georgia’s Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and Agriculture Development Strategy. Some of the endangered wheat varieties were nominated to the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

"Georgia’s agricultural tradition goes back thousands of years,” said Deputy Minister Tandilashvili. “As we are developing 21st-century agriculture, founded on the principles of sustainable farming and modern technologies, we can breathe new life into endemic wheat varieties to benefit Georgian farmers and preserve our rich biodiversity.”

“The pandemic and the visible destruction caused by climate change offer proof that we have pushed the limits of nature too far,” said UNDP Head Louisa Vinton. “Programs like this show us hands-on ways that we can try to restore balance, building green models of sustainability in partnership with local communities and organisations.”

Earlier in July, the UNDP Resident Representative visited three secondary schools in Tbilisi, where UNDP and GEF, in partnership with the 'Child and the Environment' association, school authorities, and Tbilisi's Saburtalo district administration, helped launch school gardens to promote environmental education and expand urban green spaces.

The project provided 150 school children – 50 of whom were children without parental care – with an opportunity to relax during their school day, learn how to take care of plants, and grow their own fruits and vegetables.

Background Information

Green urban development, environmental education, and sustainable agriculture are at the heart of local projects supported by UNDP and GEF across Georgia. To promote engagement and increase impact, UNDP and GEF are reaching out to local civil society organisations and communities, and supporting initiatives that directly affect people's lives. 

These impactful projects are implemented through the GEF Small Grants Programme, led by UNDP in cooperation with Georgia's Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture.

Since its launch in Georgia in 2012, the GEF Small Grants Programme has funded 71 environmental initiatives with a total value exceeding US$1.6 million. Alongside environmental benefits, these local projects help reduce rural poverty, improve livelihoods, promote gender equality, and enhance educational opportunities.

Media Contact

• Sophie Tchitchinadze, UNDP, +995 599 196907, sophie.tchitchinadze@undp.org
• Ira Sulava, UNDP, +995 599 579105, irine.sulava@undp.org
• Nana Chinchilakashvili, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, +995 599 502619, nana.chinchilakashvili@mepa.gov.ge