Up to 200 representatives of the hazelnut sector gathered for the second time at AgriGeorgia’s facility in Zugdidi for the 2026 edition of the Hazelnut Growers Day. The event brought together farmers, private sector representatives, and key stakeholders from the hazelnut value chain.
The Hazelnut Growers Day was jointly organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and AgriGeorgia (Ferrero Group’s division dedicated to hazelnut-related activities), under the European Neighborhood Program for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD) IV of the European Union and Sweden.
Building on last year’s inaugural event, this year’s Hazelnut Growers Day strengthened its practical component, creating valuable networking opportunities among all stakeholders in the sector. Machinery suppliers brought together tractors, specialized hazelnut orchard equipment and harvesters in one location, giving farmers the chance to see and compare technologies relevant to orchard management side by side. Input suppliers were also present, presenting the latest fertilizers, plant protection products, and other solutions for effective pest and disease management.
The importance of adequate drying systems was also highlighted, underlining their role in preserving hazelnut quality and improving market outcomes – building on lessons from last year’s tour of AgriGeorgia’s drying facilities, which showcased the crucial role drying plays in preventing aflatoxin contamination and therefore food safety.
In addition to the supplier exhibitions, the event included presentations and discussions on current challenges facing the hazelnut sector, as well as possible solutions to improve production, quality, and market competitiveness. Together, these elements created a practical, farmer-oriented platform where participants could directly observe technologies, learn best practices, and make more informed decisions to improve both productivity and quality.
“This year’s Hazelnut Growers Day shows how our support under ENPARD IV has successfully shifted towards a value chain approach that delivers concrete market opportunities for farmers in the hazelnut sector, driven by the exports to the EU. By bringing together key stakeholders in machinery, inputs, and expertise directly to producers, buyers’ expectations and EU quality and safety standards can be met quickly through accompanying training and investments that are also affordable for smallholders across Georgia,” said Denis Reiss, Program Officer for Sustainable Food Systems at the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia.
“The 2026 Hazelnut Growers Day builds on the strong foundation established last year, providing farmers with an even more hands-on experience with the technologies and practices that matter most to them and that greatly enhance food safety. FAO has been proudly working alongside AgriGeorgia under ENPARD IV of the EU and Sweden, connecting producers with the tools and knowledge they need for better production, better nutrition, better environment and a better future for rural communities,” said Guido Agostinucci, FAO Program Manager.
“At AgriGeorgia, we see this Hazelnut Growers Day as a continuation of our commitment to farmers across the hazelnut value chain, reflecting Ferrero Farming Values (FFV) – our responsible sourcing approach that supports farmers through knowledge sharing, sustainable farming practices and long-term partnerships. By bringing specialized machinery, agri-inputs, and best practices together in one place, we are helping producers make informed choices that improve both the quality and productivity of their orchards, which ultimately further strengthens Georgia’s export capacity and potential,” said Vakhtang Chanishvili, General Manager of AgriGeorgia.
Following on from last year’s event and the ongoing food safety-related technical training series delivered to more than 560 hazelnut farmers across Georgia, this year’s Hazelnut Growers Day reaffirms the partnership between FAO and AgriGeorgia under ENPARD IV. It reflects a continued shared commitment to leave no one behind across smallholder, medium and large producers – supporting farmers in boosting productivity, efficiency, and compliance with export standards, and strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of Georgia’s hazelnut value chain.
Source: FAO
