From October 3 to 5, ISET Policy Institute and Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO) hosted a three-day International Conference. The conference was jointly organized by ISET and IAMO and titled “Improving the Functioning of Agri-Food Value Chains in the South Caucasus Region”. The aim of the conference was to foster dialogue among academics, policymakers, practitioners, and civil society stakeholders and explore strategies for overcoming obstacles and enhancing the development of the agri-food sector in the region.

The conference featured a policy panel discussion titled, 'Resilient Agri-Food Value Chains: Counteracting Economic and Political Vulnerabilities in the South Caucasus Region.' The panel, moderated by Salome Gelashvili from the University of Göttingen, Germany, included insights from distinguished experts: Linde Götz from IAMO (Germany), Irakli Kasrashvili from Mercy Corps (Georgia), Bojan Kolundzija from Helvetas (Moldova), Namig Shalbuzov from ATM (Azerbaijan), Hrachya Zakoyan from ANAU (Armenia), and Andrea Zimmermann from FAO (Italy). The discussion focused on the challenges faced by agri-food value chain participants, particularly in light of recent crises.

In a significant moment for collaboration, ISET and IAMO officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding following the panel discussion. This partnership will open up new avenues for collaboration in research and the professional development of students and junior researchers, enhancing ongoing efforts to address the critical issues facing the agri-food sector in the South Caucasus.