Greening Harmful Agricultural Subsidies 

Policy and Management Consulting Group – PMCG is pleased to announce the commencement of the new project titled “Greening Harmful Agricultural Subsidies,” launched in partnership with UNDP Georgia under the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN). The project aims to support Rural Development Agency (RDA) and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA) in transitioning agricultural subsidies toward more sustainable, biodiversity-friendly practices. 

This transformative initiative comes in response to the growing global and national recognition of the need to mitigate the adverse impacts of conventional agriculture on biodiversity. Georgia, a critical part of the globally significant Caucasus biodiversity hotspot, continues to experience threats from land degradation, water overuse, and the expansion of monocultures—many of which are unintentionally encouraged by existing subsidy schemes. 

Building on BIOFIN’s Phase I achievements, PMCG will now lead efforts to analyze and repurpose key agricultural subsidies that currently pose risks to biodiversity. The project is structured into the following tasks: 

• Best Practice Review: PMCG will examine global examples of successful subsidy reform, assess Georgia’s current regulatory framework, and recommend policy adjustments to promote organic and sustainable agriculture. 

• Market Opportunity Assessment: PMCG will conduct in-depth market research and value chain analysis of selected organic products, identify consumer trends and pricing potential, and evaluate supply chain readiness for scaling up organic production. 

• Design of a New Subsidy Program: In consultation with farmers, policymakers, and experts, the team will develop a detailed proposal for a new or modified subsidy program to incentivize bio/organic farming, including eligibility criteria, funding mechanisms, and monitoring frameworks. 

The 28-week initiative is expected to deliver lasting impact through actionable policy recommendations and a comprehensive subsidy model. By aligning agricultural support with environmental priorities, the project aims to reduce biodiversity loss driven by harmful subsidies, boost the adoption of bio/organic farming practices, and promote improved soil health, water conservation, and habitat preservation across Georgia.