NIAB and Georgia’s Scientific Research-Centre of Agriculture forge crop science alliance

A collaboration between NIAB and the Scientific-Research Centre of Agriculture of Georgia will focus on the sharing of education and research in crop science.   

The two research institutes have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of a joint research programme. It will create opportunities for leading experts in the UK and Georgia to come together in areas of food security, crop science and biotechnology across the agricultural and horticultural sectors.

Activities will include the organisation of joint conferences and workshops, exchange of crop science students and researchers, and information sharing on research into increasing crop yields and improving disease and drought resistance.

The alliance follows a visit by Sophie Katsarava MBE, Georgian Ambassador to the UK, to NIAB’s East Malling site in Kent. Home to NIAB EMR, the UK’s largest horticultural R&D organisation, HE Katsarava met with NIAB Chief Executive Professor Mario Caccamo and Dr Nicola Harrison, Programme Director of the Growing Kent and Medway Innovation Cluster (see image).

Professor Caccamo said, “We are delighted to be part of this international collaboration to share, develop and improve crop science and technology across NIAB and SRCA. The focus on developing and supporting young researchers in their future careers in applied and fundamental research in crop agronomy and production, crop genetics and pathology is especially important to us as an organisation, and I look forward to welcoming students and postgraduates from Georgia to NIAB.”

HE Katsarava MBE said, “The UK is a strategic partner of Georgia with whom we share a long-standing partnership and sectoral cooperation. We have discussed opportunities to build new links between our agricultural sectors and to sign the MoU to further facilitate links and cooperation, creating opportunities for Georgian experts to partner and share experience and knowledge with UK researchers. For example I would like to see more Georgian quality products on UK supermarket shelves, including our fantastic Georgian wine, with 2021 the best year ever for Georgian wine exports to the UK. I would like to thank Professor Caccamo and his team for cooperation and readiness to support this important initiative.”