Growing smarter, eating safer
Hands-on learning helps farmers build more resilient farming practices
© FAO/Guram Saqvarelidze
05/06/2026
In western Georgia, where humid conditions and increasingly unpredictable weather create constant pressure from pests and diseases, farmers are learning that producing safe food begins long before harvest.
For Giorgi Gvaramia, responsible production starts with observation. With support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the European Union, and Sweden under ENPARD IV, his farm has been developed into a demonstration plot for local farmers to improve their knowledge on crop monitoring techniques, integrated pest management, greenhouse management, with the plan to use plant protection products more effectively resulting in safer crop production.
“Without close observation and monitoring, it is impossible to manage a farm,” he says while walking through his greenhouse and orchard, inspecting plants for early signs of disease or pest presence.
Together with his family, Giorgi has spent the last nine years developing a diversified farm spanning 20 hectares. Alongside fruit orchards, the family recently expanded into greenhouse vegetable production and berry cultivation.
Cultivating healthy plants
The decision to invest in protected agriculture – also known as controlled environment agriculture – came with new opportunities, but also required more scrupulous management.
“In open-field production, many environmental factors affect crops. In greenhouses, conditions are more controllable,” Giorgi explains. “At the same time, greenhouses bring their own challenges, especially humidity management and the responsible use of plant protection products.”
For Giorgi, weather conditions remain one of the most important factors influencing crop health. This year’s unusually rainy spring in western Georgia created favourable conditions for the proliferation of fungal diseases, underscoring the importance of prevention and timely intervention.
Throughout the season, he closely monitors plant health — observing leaves, stems and all plant parts, managing humidity levels, and identifying early signs of stress — using visual inspections, pheromone traps, anti-insect nets, and regular consultations with specialists.
“Early detection is essential,” he says. “If problems are not identified in time, they can severely damage both the harvest and product quality.” © FAO/Guram Saqvarelidze
Integrated pest management practices help farmers reduce unnecessary pesticide use by combining monitoring, prevention, and targeted interventions. In Giorgi’s greenhouse, improved ventilation played a critical role in preventing strawberry fungal diseases, reducing the need for chemical treatments.
“Sometimes, it is not even necessary to use certain products,” he explains. “There are preventive methods that help you detect problems before they become critical.”
Food safety first
Food safety remains at the centre of these decisions.
“It is important that people source vitamins from fruits and vegetables — not chemicals,” Giorgi says. His words could not be more timely, as World Food Safety Day (7 June) is marked across the globe.
According to Giorgi, the responsible use of plant protection products requires not only proper dosage and careful timing. Farmers must strictly adhere to pre-harvest intervals to ensure that residues are within safe limits when produce reaches consumers.
“There are specific intervals that must be respected before harvesting,” he explains. “We plan applications carefully together with specialists to ensure the product is safe for consumption.”
The issue also directly affects farmers themselves, who face health risks when pesticides are used improperly.
“We try to protect both ourselves and consumers,” Giorgi says, describing the use of gloves, masks, protective glasses, and specialized clothing during applications to reduce exposure risks.
Across Georgia, food safety is an increasingly important priority within the agricultural sector. Through ENPARD IV, implemented by FAO with support from the European Union and Sweden, efforts are underway to improve food safety standards in the country. More than 1 500 farmers have already participated in FAO field trainings, including those conducted at demonstration plots.
As a lead farmer of a demonstration plot established under ENPARD IV, Giorgi also shares his experience with other farmers interested in improving production practices. Through these demonstration plots, farmers can observe practical solutions under real-life conditions and better relate and understand how improved practices contribute not only to productivity but also to safer food production.
FAO also provides him with technical consultations on crop selection, plant care, monitoring tools, and preventive measures, including through the use of pheromone traps, and guidance on efficient and responsible use of agricultural inputs.
For Giorgi, access to information and new skills is just as important as access to technology.
“New approaches are constantly being introduced in agriculture,” he says. “Farmers need to keep up with these changes.” © FAO/Guram Saqvarelidze
“One of the biggest challenges is that farmers do not always immediately see the broader impact of their production practices,” says Meri Bekauri, Senior National Agronomy and Extension Specialist at FAO in Georgia. “Food safety starts at the farm level, but it is not always easy for primary producers to connect day-to-day decisions, such as the use of plant protection products, with the final quality and safety of food reaching consumers. As a result, they may be less open to adopting new approaches or recommendations. Demonstration plots, such as the one at Giorgi’s farm, are important because they make these links visible in practice. Once farmers see healthier plants, better-quality produce, and reduced food safety risks, they become much more open to adopting sustainable pest management practices.”
Giorgi believes that sharing knowledge among farmers is essential not only to improve productivity but also to support healthier food production for future generations.
“Knowledge should be passed on,” he says. “This helps farmers produce safer and healthier food for our families and children.”
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About ENPARD
The EU 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 agricultural potential. Subsequently, it concentrated on creating economic opportunities for rural populations in Georgia. Since 2021, the Programme has been working on improving food safety in the country, with additional support from Sweden, and FAO and the Czech Development Agency as the main implementers of this food safety component under ENPARD IV.
This article has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of FAO and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.