92 Georgian hazelnut farmers participated in theoretical and practical training sessions on hazelnut orchard pruning and formation. The event was co-organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and AgriGeorgia (Ferrero’s hazelnut company), under the ENPARD IV programme of the European Union (EU) and Sweden.

The educational module aimed to provide the Georgian hazelnut sector with the technical knowledge and skills required to implement modern, effective pruning practices. Applying these methods improves plant health, reduces disease pressure, and can lower the need for pesticide treatments, ultimately contributing to safer, higher-quality production.

The educational programme was organised in Zugdidi and Telavi, ensuring that hazelnut farmers from both Eastern and Western Georgia could benefit from the knowledge-sharing opportunity. Participants in both locations learned more about the theories behind pruning and hazelnut tree formation. They also participated in hands-on exercises directly in orchards near Zugdidi and Telavi.

“Together with our partners, under ENPARD IV of the EU and Sweden, FAO in Georgia continues supporting the hazelnut sector with knowledge-sharing opportunities,” says Guido Agostinucci, FAO Programme Manager. “Our ongoing collaboration with AgriGeorgia has been key in making FAO’s knowledge-sharing efforts successful and improving their dissemination. Further improving food safety standards in the hazelnut sector bring significant economic impact on local farming communities, as well as Georgia itself, where hazelnut is one of the main exported agricultural products.”

“By providing state-of-the-art notions and engaging in direct discussions on how to manage hazelnut orchards best, producers are able to better understand the importance of how applying proper pruning techniques at the farm level has a direct effect on the overall plant health”, says Tamari Otkhmezuri, FAO Agronomy and Extension Specialist.

“The EU remains a strong supporter of the development of Georgia’s hazelnut value chain,” says Denis Reiss, Programme Officer for Sustainable Food Systems at the Delegation of the EU to Georgia. “The consolidation of the market shares in the EU is necessary through best sustainable practices enhancing farmers’ competitiveness and ensuring their products meet the requested quality standards.”

“At AgriGeorgia, we are proud to collaborate with FAO and the EU to bring practical knowledge to Georgian hazelnut farmers,” says Vakhtang Chanishvili, General Manager of AgriGeorgia. “These training sessions equip farmers with the skills needed to adopt modern pruning practices, enhance orchard productivity, and meet international quality standards.”

In 2025, as a result of FAO’s successful partnerships with the private sector, and AgriGeorgia in particular, more than 260 hazelnut farmers received practical and theoretical training connected with enhancing food safety in hazelnut production. Additionally, FAO, under the ENPARD IV programme of the EU and Sweden, is providing matching grants to hazelnut farmers to support improved drying practices, which are central to enhancing the food safety of final products. Attending FAO’s educational sessions, including those organised in partnership with AgriGeorgia expertise, was a key eligibility criterion to access this financial support.

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About the European Union

For more than 30 years, the European Union has built a close partnership with Georgia, supporting its development through knowledge and experience sharing, expertise, innovation and financial support. The relationship between the EU and the citizens of Georgia is based on shared values of peace, freedom, democracy, human rights and inclusive economic growth. More about the EU’s support in Georgia https://eu4georgia.eu/the-european-union-in-georgia/

About ENPARD

The European Union supports rural development in Georgia through its ENPARD Programme. Aiming to reduce rural poverty, ENPARD has been implemented since 2013. The Programme started by supporting the development of the national agriculture potential. Subsequently, it also concentrated on creating economic opportunities for rural populations in Georgia. Since 2021, the Programme has also been working on improving food safety in the country, with additional support from Sweden and with FAO and the Czech Development Agency as the main implementers of this food safety component under ENPARD IV.