A conference titled “Our Daily Bread: Georgian Wheat Culture, Tradition, and Identity” was held at the Parliament of Georgia. The event was dedicated to the inclusion of Georgian wheat culture, along with its associated traditions and rituals, in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The participants of the conference were welcomed by the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, H.E. Shalva Papuashvili.

“The recognition of Georgian wheat gives us an opportunity to speak more about who we were yesterday, who we are today, and who we can become tomorrow. Our heritage requires not only protection and preservation, but also active use, so that it does not disappear from everyday life and can be passed on to future generations. This recognition by UNESCO reminds us of how extensive our nation’s cultural heritage list is, much of which still awaits UNESCO’s attention. One of the aims of today’s event is to propose to the executive branch that, through joint efforts, we succeed in elevating as many Georgian traditions and rituals as possible to the status of world intangible cultural heritage”, - stated Shalva Papuashvili.

 

The Vice-Speaker of Parliament, Nino Tsilosani, also addressed the participants.

 

“Today’s conference is not merely a thematic event; it is a value-based gathering that brings together state policy, scientific knowledge, living tradition, and culture, and creates a unified narrative: Georgian wheat as a continuation of national identity, cultural memory, and an unbroken tradition”, - said Nino Tsilosani.

 

Chair of the Agriculture Committee, Gela Samkharauli, noted in his address that the international recognition of Georgian wheat will bring significant cultural and social benefits in the future and will create a foundation for new opportunities.

 

“The culture of Georgian wheat, along with its traditions and rituals, has a history spanning millennia and represents a cultural value of not only national but also international significance. Today, as this culture is inscribed in the World Intangible Cultural Heritage List, we receive not only recognition but also responsibility—to ensure its vitality and its integration into modern agricultural policy”, - stated Gela Samkharauli.

 

Chair of the Culture Committee, Giorgi Gabunia, spoke about the historical, spiritual, and cultural significance of Georgian wheat, emphasizing that it is an inseparable part of Georgian national identity.

 

“Alongside Georgian polyphony, winemaking in qvevri (pitcher), the living tradition of the three forms of the Georgian alphabet, and Georgian wrestling, Georgian wheat has been added as a monument of intangible cultural heritage. Georgia has firmly established its place in the modern world as a nation standing at the origins of human civilization, bearing high spirituality and a great culture”, - stated Giorgi Gabunia.

 

The conference also featured speeches by the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Davit Songulashvili, and Metropolitan, Chairman of the Agricultural Development Center, His Eminence David, Abba of Alaverdi.

 

As part of the conference, a panel discussion was held on the topic “Georgian Wheat Culture: From Tradition to Science and Legal Protection.” Speakers discussed the uniqueness of Georgian wheat, endemic varieties, ethnographic aspects, the role of farmers, and the UNESCO nomination process, as well as prospects for the legal protection of geographical indications and appellations of origin.

 

On behalf of the Chair of the Agriculture Committee, Gela Samkharauli, certificates of appreciation were awarded to individuals who, through their work, contributed to the inclusion of “Georgian Wheat Culture: Traditions and Rituals” in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, in recognition of their high professionalism, exceptional effort, and dedication to the goal.

 

The event also featured folkloric performances and the presentation of a thematic video. Guests had the opportunity to attend the screening of the film submitted for the UNESCO nomination and to view an exhibition of Georgian wheat products.