The FAO has already contacted potential candidates with an offer to participate in the program. A total of 85 food business operators expressed their willingness to join the first cycle of support, on the basis of which the FAO team is involved in the process of developing individual action plans with them.
The first phase of the EU-funded support cycle will provide food safety training for food business operators. They will have the opportunity to learn from FAO's local and international experts on the subject. Additionally, in the absence of a HACCP plan, food business operators participating in the program will be assisted in developing a HACCP plan.
After the trainings, the FAO will assess the need for equipment necessary to implement food safety standards for each participant individually. As a result of the evaluation, the organization will offer the participants of the program co-participation grants for the purchase of the necessary equipment.
The maximum volume of the EU-funded co-participation grant is $50,000, and 70 percent of the cost of the equipment will be covered by the FAO.
As part of the EU's ENPARD IV programme, the FAO will gradually implement various assistance packages, including technical support and participatory grants, to address food security challenges in the country.
Since 2013, the European Union has been supporting agriculture and rural development in Georgia within the ENPARD program. The goal of the program is to strengthen economic opportunities in rural areas and reduce poverty in Georgia.
The first phase of the ENPARD program focused on developing the country's agricultural potential, while the second and third phases aim to create economic opportunities for the rural population in agriculture and beyond. From 2023, the program is implemented by the FAO and the Czech Development Agency, and more emphasis is placed on improving food safety in Georgia.