Regional B2B Event in Kutaisi Promotes Climate-Smart Practices in Georgia’s Blueberry Value Chain
A regional B2B information and consultation event was held in Kutaisi to promote climate-smart agriculture, green financing opportunities, and technological innovation in Georgia’s blueberry value chain. The event was organized under the PROGRESS – Promoting Green Deal Readiness in the Eastern Partnership Countries initiative, implemented by REC Caucasus in cooperation with GIZ.
The meeting brought together blueberry producers, agribusiness representatives, technology providers, financial institutions, agricultural experts, and other stakeholders to discuss practical approaches to improving the sustainability and competitiveness of Georgia’s agricultural sector in line with the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy.
The event opened with a presentation of demonstration projects implemented under the PROGRESS initiative, showcasing innovative climate-smart technologies introduced on beneficiary farms. Participants learned about the application of automated agrometeorological stations, precision fertigation systems, renewable energy solutions, and sustainable processing practices that help optimize resource use, reduce environmental impacts, and improve production efficiency.
Beneficiary farmers shared their practical experiences, highlighting how digital technologies have enabled more efficient irrigation and fertilization, reduced pesticide applications through weather-based decision-making, and created new opportunities for sustainable value-added production.
During the event, REC Caucasus presented the objectives of the European Green Deal and its relevance to Georgia’s agricultural sector. Participants were also introduced to two comprehensive training programmes developed within the project, focusing on blueberry production and value chain management, as well as climate-smart fertigation and digital water management. These programmes aim to strengthen the knowledge and skills of farmers, agronomists, and extension specialists, supporting the wider adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.
Green financing opportunities for agribusiness were presented by representatives of TBC Bank, who introduced financing mechanisms available for environmentally sustainable agricultural investments and highlighted the bank’s continued support for climate-smart agricultural development.
The programme also featured presentations from private sector partners demonstrating innovative digital solutions for agriculture. These included AI-based farm management systems, smart irrigation and fertigation technologies, digital monitoring tools, and energy-efficient solutions designed to enhance productivity while reducing operational costs and environmental impacts.
The event concluded with structured B2B networking sessions, providing participants with an opportunity to establish new business connections, exchange knowledge, and explore future cooperation. Farmers, technology providers, financial institutions, and industry experts engaged in direct discussions aimed at fostering partnerships that will contribute to the sustainable development of Georgia’s blueberry sector.
The regional meeting reaffirmed the importance of collaboration, innovation, and knowledge sharing in supporting the transition towards climate-smart and environmentally sustainable agriculture in Georgia.
