With the support of the European Union, Sweden, and Austria, Georgian organic wine and tea are being promoted on the European and international organic market.
BIOFACH is the world’s largest trade fair for organic food and agriculture, providing a platform for individuals and companies worldwide to exhibit their products and be inspired by the sector’s latest trends. The fair offers opportunities to share experiences and create business connections that foster organic farming practices. Beyond being just an ordinary fair, BIOFACH also features training and seminars where attendees can gain new information and share experiences vital to developing organic farming.
“The European Union, Sweden, and Austria have teamed up to promote Georgian organic production and showcase Georgian organic wine and tea at BIOFACH 2023, the world’s most important exhibition,” notes David Muckenhuber, Head of the International Project Management Department of the Vienna Office of the Austrian Development Agency. “This joint effort is essential for achieving unified and long-term economic benefits for all involved. Additionally, other Georgian partners and associations have been involved in this initiative, further emphasizing the importance of collaboration and teamwork in achieving common goals. The important factor here is the involvement of other Georgian partners and associations in the collaborative effort, as it serves as a prerequisite for attaining unified and long-term economic benefits.”
Georgia has almost all the conditions to produce products acceptable to the EU market.
“Georgia possesses great potential for organic products: It offers favorable soil, climate, cultural varieties, and many other necessary conditions for successful organic production,” says Dominik Papenheim, Team Leader for Economic Development and Market Opportunities at the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia. “Organic farming brings benefits to the environment, animal welfare, rural communities, and the resilience of our food system. This is why we support Georgian farmers in achieving EU organic standards and exporting their high-quality products to the organic EU market, one of the largest worldwide.”
Georgia alread has the capacity for export extension in the European market. For this, the participation of Georgian entrepreneurs and especially bio entrepreneurs at international exhibitions will contribute to the mentioned process.
“It is important for all the visitors to obtain relevant product information and have the opportunity to taste the offerings from our lands. This gives our farmers a platform to showcase their organic products in the European market,” says Tamaz Dundua, head of the program of the organic farming association Elkana.
Participation in the BIOFACH exhibition opened new opportunities for Georgian organic wine and tea producers in the international and EU-based Bio Markets.
“Presenting our organic products and building new relationships with partners, retailers, and traders are essential goals of our participation in the exhibition. By doing so, we can keep track of recent trends in the market and expand our reach in the industry,” Mindia Dzneladze, a member of the Georgian Mountain Tea Association, notes.
This year’s BIOFACH exhibition was particularly fruitful and exciting for the Georgian company Geoflowers.
“Our organic black and green teas have been well received, which led to the signing of cooperation agreements with several companies,” says Gocha Dzneladze, director of Geoflowers. “This will increase the volume of sales by 15% from this year. With the support of the European Union, Sweden, and Austria, the company was able to package organic products according to modern standards, which align with current trends and aids in environmental conservation and sustainable business practices.”
The global bio sector is currently experiencing a growth trend, which can be attributed to sharing of knowledge and experiences gained in the field. The transfer of necessary knowledge is contributing to the increased production of bioproducts.
“We are gaining a lot of experience here at the exhibition by establishing connections with potential clients, wine exporters, and other interested parties who are keen on Georgia and Georgian wine,” says the founder of Khomlis Marani, Tamaz Omanadze. “The expectation is that the awareness of Georgian wine will rise in the segment called ultra-premium organic wines.”
To activate and further increase Georgian bioproduction for both the domestic and export markets, it is essential to establish new contacts, gain more experience, and explore new opportunities.
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Project GRETA – “Green Economy: Sustainable Mountain Tourism and Organic Agriculture” is implemented by the Austria Development Agency in Georgia with the support of the European Union, Austria, and Sweden. The project aims to facilitate improving the business environment and creating new income opportunities in two important sectors of the Georgian economy, mountain tourism and organic agriculture.
