NAITS is Transforming Georgia’s Livestock Sector
Georgia has significantly modernized its livestock sector through the National Animal Identification and Traceability System (NAITS). By digitally recording animals, their movements and veterinary interventions, the system operated by the National Food Agency (NFA) strengthens food safety, improves disease control, and helps farmers meet international standards.
What is NAITS and why it matters
With more than 25 functional modules and data on over two million livestock animals, mainly cattle and sheep, NAITS has become a central pillar of Georgia’s veterinary and food safety system. Over time, the system has gradually expanded to include additional functions, such as the registration of beekeeping farms, aquaculture facilities, farmer organizations, and, where relevant, other animal populations.
“NAITS is one of Switzerland’s flagship projects in Georgia. By improving animal health, food safety and traceability, it helps protect consumers, strengthen farmers’ market opportunities, and increase rural incomes,” says Beka Tagauri, Head of the Economic Development portfolio, Embassy of Switzerland in Georgia.
NAITS is equally important for consumers, farmers, and the government. For consumers, it strengthens food safety by ensuring that animal products can be traced back to their origin. For farmers, the system offers better access to both domestic and international markets by aligning production practices with international traceability and safety standards. For government institutions, NAITS provides a powerful tool for disease surveillance and control, enabling rapid response to outbreaks and more effective policy planning.
A Complete Lifecycle Record
Each year, thousands of sheep and cattle are moved between lowland and highland pastures, known as transhumance. While these movements, often covering long distances, are essential for pasture management and animal health, they also present challenges for disease control.
“We’ve always managed our animals the traditional way, but the digital system makes things clearer. When animals move between pastures, there is always a risk of spreading disease. Now we know exactly where they have been and can act quickly if necessary. It makes our work much safer. Having animals registered in NAITS helps prove their origin and health status. This opens better market opportunities and builds trust with buyers.” said Zakaria Pitiurishvili, veterinarian from Kodalo village, Gurjaani Municipality of the Kakheti region in eastern Georgia.
NAITS allows authorities to trace not only where an animal has been, but also which other animals it may have contacted. When data are entered, this information can be visualized on geographical maps, enabling veterinary services to quickly identify risk areas and contain potential disease outbreaks.
In a nutshell, NAITS enables full traceability of animals throughout their lifecycle from birth to slaughter; the system stores detailed information on each animal, including ownership history, geographic location, and movement routes.
NAITS goes beyond animal tracking. It also records a wide range of activities, including vaccinations, sampling, and laboratory testing. This creates a comprehensive and reliable audit trail of veterinary interventions.
“The National Food Agency, as the operator of NAITS, already possesses a powerful tool that enables the protection of the livestock sector. The existing electronic platform significantly strengthens our veterinary services and allows them to shift from a reactive approach to preventive and proactive management, whether through seasonal monitoring or responding to disease outbreaks. This system ensures both the protection of animal health, thereby preventing losses for farmers, as well as traceability and the safety of products supplied to consumers,” stated Alexandre Zurabishvili, Deputy Head of the National Food Agency.
Bringing Beekeeping into the System
Since January 2023, NAITS has expanded to include mandatory registration of beekeeping farms. The legislation requires the identification and registration of apiaries, particularly in cases involving the movement, purchase, sale, or marketing of bee families and bee products.
This development represents an important step forward—not only for food safety but also for the economic potential of the sector, including the export of queen bees.
Zviad Loria, founder of the Frak Benton International Beekeeping Association and head of the Union of Beekeeping Farms, highlighted the operational benefits: “Registration in NAITS will enable apiaries and queen bee breeding facilities to produce consistent and predictable quality and quantity of bee products. It will also facilitate veterinary control in line with international standards—an essential factor for both domestic production and international partnerships.”
Aquaculture will be next to integrate into the system, further strengthening the sector in Georgia.
A System Tailored to Georgia’s Needs
Georgia is not the only country with an animal identification and traceability system, but NAITS has been specifically designed to respond to Georgia’s needs and livestock production realities. As a modern, next-generation platform, it offers greater flexibility than many earlier systems. In addition to the web-based platform, farmers can use user-friendly mobile applications to register animals and report movements, making the system particularly accessible in remote areas. The Georgian model has also attracted international interest and has been adapted, with modifications, in 14 other countries.
“Following the independence of Georgia, no control existed over the animal registration and movement. The NAITS system represents a major milestone for Georgia’s livestock sector. By strengthening traceability and disease control, it not only protects public health but also enhances the country’s credibility and competitiveness in international markets. FAO is proud to have developed the system that positions Georgia as a safe food producer internationally, bridging the gap between local farmers and global markets”, noted Mikheil Sokhadze, FAO Georgia project manager.
Expanding the System and Securing its Future
The second phase of NAITS has focused on both expanding the system’s scope and ensuring its long-term sustainability. New modules have been introduced, including the registration of beekeeping farms and queen bee breeding facilities, while the integration of aquaculture is currently under preparation. At the same time, significant efforts have been made to strengthen system maintenance, operational arrangements, institutional ownership, and the capacities of the National Food Agency to manage and further develop the platform. As the project approaches its completion in 2026, these measures aim to ensure that NAITS remains a reliable and sustainable tool supporting animal health, food safety, and market access in Georgia for years to come.
Quick Facts
Implemented by the National Food Agency with technical assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Funded by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC, Austrian Development Agency ADA.
Implemented over the period of 2016 – 2026.
90% of livestock are identified and registered.
10’000 people, including NFA specialists, vets, and farmers, were trained.