The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), continues to support Georgia to strengthen its agricultural systems under the project “Enhancing Implementation and Efficiency of National Sanitary and Phytosanitary Capacity for Georgia through Training and Education”. A vital component of USDA’s efforts to enhance Georgia’s ability to participate in international markets includes the design and implementation of national phytosanitary policy, which is consistent with the international standards championed by the World Trade Organization.
USDA has recently introduced an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) ‘Roadmap’ for Georgia, which is designed to increase the adoption of sustainable, economical and safe pest management practices. The IPM Roadmap was developed jointly with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture and the National Food Agency, following interviews and discussions conducted with more than 100 representatives from Georgian government ministries, and with international donor organizations active in the country. Recognizing that IPM has become the pest management paradigm in international agriculture, one of the outcomes of the Roadmap’s implementation will be to assist Georgia in meeting the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs).
The design and implementation of a national IPM program for Georgia will protect consumers in the United States and other countries trading with Georgia from the importation of unwanted pests and will significantly reduce the overall risk to growers, consumers, and the environment.
USDA is implementing this project in cooperation with California State University, Fresno, and the Georgian “Farmer of Future” association.