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David Songulashvili: “I congratulate everyone on this historically significant event!”
“ Georgia is globally distinguished by the exceptional diversity of its wheat species. UNESCO has inscribed ‘Georgian Wheat Culture: Traditions and Rituals’ on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognition once again outlines the importance of the continuous, historical legacy of Georgian agrarian knowledge,” stated the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr David Songulashvili, during his address at the event marking the inscription of ‘Georgian Wheat Culture: Traditions and Rituals’ on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The Minister emphasised that out of the 27 cultivated and wild wheat species documented globally, 14 have been identified in Georgia, including five endemic varieties.
“It is truly a source of pride for each of us that, alongside the 8,000-year uninterrupted tradition of winemaking, wheat culture and its associated rituals have taken their rightful place. The unique methods of harvesting and post-harvest handling deserve special mention, be it harvesting with a hand sickle, preparing the soil for sowing with a plough, or using rain-threshing tools, followed by the storage of grain in barns, granaries, or underground pits. As for the tradition of bread baking, with its distinctiveness and diversity, it can truly be described as a living, functioning gastronomic museum.
I would like to underscore that, in addition to the work carried out jointly with UNESCO, the Ministry has, over the years, collaborated closely with the FAO to refine the certification system for Georgian wheat, develop a national catalogue, and establish a genetic bank. This cooperation has, on the one hand, enabled farmers to access certified seed material that meets established standards and, on the other hand, has protected the market from counterfeit products. Special recognition is also due to the significant efforts of the Ministry’s Scientific Research Centre in placing 210 unique samples of Georgian wheat, maize, and beans in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway.
Today, we see the results of all these processes. Today, the entire world recognises that Georgian wheat stands out not only for its varietal diversity but also for its qualitatively significant characteristics. Accordingly, Georgia is well-positioned to make a distinctive contribution in the modern world through the genetic resources we possess. For us, this is a matter of national pride and our unique contribution to the formation of world civilisation,” Mr David Songulashvili stated.
In concluding his remarks, the Minister expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders involved who, through tremendous effort and expertise, made this historic day possible.