Georgian wheat culture - from ancient tradition to world recognition

Wheat, as a culture with many millennia of history and traditions, today stands at another important stage. UNESCO has published a draft positive decision, according to which "Georgian Wheat Culture: Traditions and Rituals" may be included in the representative list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

On March 28, 2024, Georgia submitted the nomination "Georgian Wheat Culture: Traditions and Rituals" to UNESCO. The nomination successfully passed the first stage of review, and the received positive conclusion emphasizes the unique importance of Georgian wheat culture from the point of view of both biological and cultural heritage.

According to UNESCO, the inclusion of this element in the list will contribute to the increase of public interest in the ancient traditions related to wheat cultivation, processing, bread baking and related rituals.

The organization especially notes that recognition of Georgian wheat culture will contribute to food safety OEBA, gender equality, environmental sustainability, inclusive economic development, as well as strengthening peace and social cohesion.

According to the Resolution No. 98 of the Government of Georgia dated March 27, 2024, the element has been assigned the category of national importance, which emphasizes its special cultural and historical value.

Finally, on December 8-13, 2025, the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO will be held in Delhi, India, where the Georgian nomination will be finally discussed.

The Ministry of Culture would like to thank all the parties involved in the project — the Vice-Speaker of the Parliament Nino Tsilosa, the Agrarian Affairs Committee of the Parliament, the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture and the specialists who contributed to the preparation of this historic nomination.

Georgian wheat is not only an agricultural crop, it is a unified symbol of fertility, unity and life, which reflects our identity. Its world cultural heritage is not Getting into the Skha means that the world community recognizes Georgia as one of the oldest homelands of wheat.

This recognition is not only a respect for the past, but also a hope for the future that Georgian wheat will continue to be an integral part of hard work, spiritual wealth and village life.