From Waste to Wealth: Georgia's bio-factory for agricultural residues

Agriculture is a key economic sector in Georgia and makes a significant contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) and employment. However, agricultural residues are mostly utilised in the traditional way, which often leads to improper disposal and environmental pollution. A sustainable conversion of these residues into organic products could not only reduce the environmental impact, but also support Georgia's sustainable development goals. Although the Georgian government is already undertaking initiatives to promote environmentally friendly bio-production, such as the production of biofuels, there is a lack of modern technologies and expertise to effectively implement these projects. Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI) emphasises the need for a supportive approach to advance the bioproduct industry. Targeted capacity building is crucial to implement sustainable practices in the agricultural sector and fund international cooperation.

The Waste2Wealth project aims to improve the agricultural situation in Georgia and involve German technology companies in the field of organic production. A central element of the project is the Digital LERNHAUS, which was specially developed for the transfer of knowledge and experience and gives Georgian partner organisations access to German know-how. In addition, an advertising container will be installed in Georgia to present key technologies for the production of organic products and provide direct access to innovative solutions.

The Waste2Wealth project aims to utilise the untapped potential of agricultural waste in Georgia for the production of organic products through the international transfer of knowledge and experience. A central measure is the establishment of a digital platform that offers Georgian partner organisations permanent access to German expertise and innovative technologies through formats such as short films, 360-degree photos and interactive quizzes. Another focus is the installation of an advertising container that presents key technologies for the production of organic products and enables direct access to these technologies. In cooperation with local partners, up to four agricultural residues with the greatest potential for utilisation are to be identified and product-oriented utilisation chains outlined on this basis. Knowledge will be transferred through digital training courses using a train-the-trainer approach, with a focus on the technical and organisational aspects of waste recycling. A planned whitebook will contain market information and concepts for the implementation of bioproduct lines and provide a roadmap to promote Georgian-German technology transfer. In addition, the project aims to reduce the carbon footprint of agriculture and diversify energy production, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).