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April 3, 2026 - GTU Office of Press and Public Relations A strategic collaboration meeting is held at GTU with the Kocaeli Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry within the scope of the AGRIC project, which focuses on artificial intelligence and agroecological transition.
Gebze Technical University (GTU) held a key meeting to strengthen its leading work in sustainable agriculture, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence. A delegation from the Kocaeli Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry visited the university to evaluate the “AGRIC” (Adaptive Plant Breeding Strategies for Agroecological Transition Using Existing Crop Genetic Resources) project, which is being developed under a European Union (EU) call and submitted under the coordination of GTU.
Kocaeli Becomes a Strategic Partner in a Major Project In the AGRIC project, which includes partners from Finland, Denmark, Spain, and Romania, the Kocaeli Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry will be positioned as an “associated partner” in Türkiye. During the visit, comprehensive planning was presented regarding field integration, farmer engagement, and regional dissemination strategies.
The meeting was hosted by Nurgül Kıtır-Şen, Associate Professor at GTU Institute of Earth and Marine Sciences and Assistant Director of the Smart Agriculture Research and Application Center. Attendees included Ali Ulvi Özerdem, Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry; Ramazan Yakar, Deputy Provincial Director; Ela Korkmaz, Head of Plant Production and Plant Health Division; and engineers Emel Akın and Birsen Aşık Cuhadar from the Seed Certification Unit.
Smart Agriculture and Biotechnological Solutions In addition to EU-funded projects, other innovative initiatives carried out at GTU were also presented:
Artificial Intelligence-Based Systems: Smart irrigation and fertilization solutions that optimize resource use Biological Inputs and Compost: Locally developed biotechnological products for sustainable agriculture TÜBİTAK Projects: Ongoing R&D activities conducted within the university
Site and Infrastructure Assessments As part of the collaboration, the Çayırova Seed Testing and Certification Directorate, a stakeholder in the newly approved TÜBİTAK 1001 project titled “Innovative Applications for Carbon Sequestration in Sustainable Agriculture through the Purification of Enzymes from Bacillus Species and Humic-Fulvic Acids from Leonardite via Supercritical Fluid Extraction,” led by Associate Professor Nurgül Kıtır-Şen was also visited. The delegation examined the technical infrastructure and on-site application opportunities, clarifying the roadmap for future joint projects.
These engagements aim to enhance Türkiye’s international success in climate-smart agriculture, carbon sequestration, and digital agricultural technologies. |
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