On March 14, the ISET Policy Institute organized a roundtable discussion on Food Prices, Price Controls, and their Potential Impact on Georgia’s Economy. The event was attended by experts from local and international institutions who shared their views and exchanged ideas on proposed policy solutions.

Historically, hazelnuts have been one of Georgia’s main crops in terms of economic value; as the country is located on the Black Sea coastal area, which has suitable soil and climate conditions for growing hazelnuts. Even as early as the fourth century B.C., populations grew wild forms of hazelnut, which later adapted to local conditions and formed regional varieties (GEONUTS, 2023).

Hazelnuts are one of the most important crops for Georgia in terms of export: between 2010-2021, they accounted for around 4.4% of total exports (GeoStat, 2022). In 2013, the quantity of exported hazelnuts reached its maximum level (30 ths. tons), in the following years, it then decreased to 19 ths. tons alongside an increase in value, thus indicating higher prices per exported kg of Georgian hazelnut.

On 14 December, ISET Policy Institute’s Salome Gelashvili, Practice Head for agriculture and rural policy, presented the results of their Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) of the Draft Law on Food Loss and Waste.

The Georgian winemaking tradition is 8000 years old, making Georgia the world’s first known location of grape winemaking. There are many traditions associated with Georgian winemaking. One of them is ‘Rtveli’ – the grape harvest that usually starts in September and continues throughout the autumn season, accompanied by feasts and celebrations.