Assoc. Prof. Muge Isleten Hosoglu and Asst. Prof. Umit Baris Kutman participated as invited speakers at the Regional Workshop on Algal Production and Biotechnology, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the Central Asia and Caucasus Regional Fisheries and Aquaculture Commission (CACFish). The event took place at the Dedeman Istanbul Hotel on November 27-28, 2024. At the workshop, Assoc. Prof. Muge Isleten Hosoglu gave a presentation titled "Algae as a Functional Food Source," while Asst. Prof. Umit Baris Kutman delivered a talk titled "Integrating Algae and Aquatic Plants into Sustainable Agrifood Strategies."
The international workshop brought together nearly 40 researchers from various Eurasian countries, including Turkey, Croatia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. The workshop focused on algal biotechnology from an interdisciplinary perspective. Recent developments and future perspectives on the use of algae in agriculture, food, food supplements, and the pharmaceutical industry were shared, which are directly related to our institute's three areas of specialization: Medical Biotechnology, Plant Biotechnology, and Industrial Biotechnology. The importance of algal biotechnology for sustainability and green transformation was emphasized, with examples of circular bioeconomy applications provided. The event offered significant opportunities to establish an international research network, and researchers exchanged ideas to develop new projects and collaborations.
