World Journal of Engineering Research and Technology

Tamta Utnelishvili*, Nino Dzirkvelishvili*

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the structural characteristics of food consumption and import dependency in Georgia, with particular emphasis on the country’s limited domestic production capacity and its vulnerability to external shocks. The research utilizes quantitative data from GEOSTAT, FAO, the World Bank, IMF, and regional statistical sources (Armenia and Azerbaijan) to evaluate Georgia’s self-sufficiency ratios, import composition, and price dynamics over the period 2020–2024. The findings indicate that Georgia remains highly dependent on imports for key food commodities, particularly wheat, meat, dairy products, vegetable oils, and fish, resulting in elevatedexposure to fluctuations in global prices, exchange rates, and energy costs. Comparative regional analysis shows that Georgia lags behind both Armenia and Azerbaijan in terms of self-sufficiency, especially in wheat and dairy production. Rising international food prices, energy costs, and domestic currency depreciation have collectively contributed to substantial food price inflation, disproportionately affecting low-income households, which spend up to 75% of their income on food. The study concludes that Georgia’s vulnerability in food security is fundamentally structural and highlights the need for targeted agricultural policy interventions, productivity enhancements, and risk mitigation mechanisms to reduce import dependency and strengthen the resilience of the national food system.

[Full Text Article] [Download Certificate] https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17811759