During His Working Visit to Israel, David Songulashvili visited the Volcani Center.

The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mr. David Songulashvili, along with Israeli Minister of Agriculture and Food Safety, Mr. Avi Dichter, visited the Volcani Center.


The Volcani Center is Israel’s national agricultural research institute. The Head of the Center, Professor Benny Chefetz, briefed the Ministers on its core principles, ongoing projects, and research priorities.


Founded in 1921, the Volcani Center comprises six research institutes dedicated to: plant sciences; soil, water, and environmental sciences; animal sciences; plant protection; post-harvest and food sciences; and agricultural and biological engineering. Each institute focuses on its own specialized field. 


According to Professor Benny Chefetz, in 2017, the Volcani Center received UNESCO’s international award in the life sciences in recognition of its innovative contributions to agriculture. The center collaborates globally with research institutes, governments, universities, and the private sector to share its technologies and scientific expertise. It also operates a scientific information center that provides researchers with data, publications, patents, and training.


As Minister Songulashvili stated, Georgia can benefit from the Volcani Center’s innovations in water management, particularly for drought-prone regions. He emphasized the importance of sharing the Center’s experience in developing climate-resilient crop varieties, as well as in post-harvest loss reduction and food-waste management. The Minister highlighted cooperation with the Volcani Center through exchange programs for students and farmers, along with joint scientific research.

 
Professor Benny Chefetz expressed readiness to deepen cooperation.

 
“It is an honor for us to host the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia at the Volcani Center. We stand ready to expand cooperation between our university and all agricultural and scientific institutions of Georgia, to facilitate the exchange of experience in both food production and food safety,” said Prof. Chefetz.

 
Minister Songulashvili was accompanied at the Volcani Center by Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mr. Lasha Dolidze, Georgia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the State of Israel, Mr. Zaza Kandelaki, and Georgia’s Honorary Consul, Mr. Meni Benish.