FoodVentures Georgia/Imereti Greenery The applicant, FoodVentures B.V. is a developer of greenhouse cultivation projects. Its owners have over 20 years of experience in project development in the Black Sea region. Among other projects, they are developing a 6 hectare vegetable greenhouse in Ukraine together with Dutch farmers and Ukrainian investors. Local partner is a company founded by four experienced Georgian businessmen that has acquired a geothermal source near Samtredia, a village in the Imereti district, 244 km west of Tbilisi. Its owners are renowned local businessmen. The partners plan to establish a joint venture and set up a modern vegetable farm for lettuce and herbs. The venture will use modern agricultural technologies and practices. A glass greenhouse and hydroponic cultivation system will be applied. The partners aim to serve the local market for off season fresh lettuce and herbs. This off season market now relies on erratic imports from Turkey, high prices and varying quality.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)The partners will obtain GlobalGAP certification for their operation. In order to retain their well trained staff, the joint venture will pay well above industry average, actually above Georgian living wages.Also, they will cooperate with the Stichting Breath Care for kids that runs a refugee centre for underprivileged kids near Samtredia. A number of their former occupants, who often have a very weak position in society, will be employed.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsThe partners will pay living wages. The project will be located in Samtredia, 244 km away from the capital of Tbilisi, where job opportunities are very limited.•	Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeCurrently, there is no year round production of lettuce. Using hydroponics is new to Georgia. Existing initiatives failed to get the high yield that could be expected. Also, the distribution that will be set up next to this greenhouse will be new to Georgia and lighten the burden or hotels etc to find fresh vegetables.•	Chain effectsBetter availability of local produce in supermarkets. Supermarkets are a recent phenomenon in Georgia. Development of this sector can considered to lag fifteen years behind the Russian Federation and a decade behind Ukraine. During the last few years large supermarkets are being opened in the large cities. The offering of fresh vegetables is currently of mediocre quality, since supplies are erratic and often transported from Turkey without refrigeration.•	Impact on the sectorWhen successful, the project can set an example for the possibilities of modern growing practices. Horticulture development is one of the key priorities in Georgian agriculture policies, but investment in this sector has remained very limited up to now.•	EnvironmentThe geothermal source is currently draining hot water into the environment. When this project is implemented, this water will be significantly cooler and therefore less harmful.•	Position of womenThe partners will employ a relatively large amount of women in high positions.•	Impact on food safetyThe project will produce basic foodstuffs for the local market. Dependency on erratic imports of varying quality will be reduced.•	Impact on waterCompared to other cultivation systems, dry hydroponics is very water efficient. Dry hydroponics is a closed cultivation system. Water that is added to the system is used only by the crops. Setting up a greenhouse producing 780,000 pieces of lettuce and herbs year round for the local market, using a hydroponic cultivation system.