Biomass Energy Journey 9th Technical Training-Antalya

Within the scope of our project, the 9th and last "Biomass Energy Journey Technical Training" was held in Antalya on 9-10 November 2023, hosted by the Western Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute (BATEM).

Within the scope of the project, technical trainings have been organized all over our country to reach all stakeholders in the sector so far. Approximately 600 people from 81 provinces participated in these trainings, which were organized in Manisa, Konya, Ankara, Bursa, Erzurum, Van, Samsun, İzmir, Antalya and attracted great attention. In the technical trainings, ideas were also exchanged with stakeholders, cooperation opportunities were evaluated and new projects were paved the way.

At the opening of the program, our Deputy General Manager Dr. Şerafettin ÇAKAL started his speech by talking about the historical journey of the change in nature and human relations. He emphasized the effects of consumption and economic greed that occurred after the Agricultural Revolution and the Industrial Revolution on environmental exploitation, and stated that with the Smart Agriculture era, not those with a lot of land and people; He emphasized that those who have knowledge of ecology, biology, bioinformatics, can make macro and micro planning, can produce strategies in production and trade, can adapt to changing conditions, can manage risks, can predict, and value information and information production will be the winners. Our Deputy General Manager also stated that the 3 main issues of today's critical importance are: Food, Climate Change and Energy, and that this project creates an important step and awareness in order to trigger sectoral transformation by applying modern bioenergy technologies to increase the competitiveness of the agricultural industry in our country, strengthen general energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

From our General Directorate, Field Crops Research Department Head Suat YILMAZ, Soil and Water Resources Research Department Head Mehmet Mustafa YEŞİL, Department Head Mustafa Çalışkan from the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, UNIDO representative Erşan Olcay IŞIN, Western Mediterranean Agricultural Research Director Dr. Abdullah ÜN, Konya Soil, Water and Combating Desertification Research Institute Director Dr. Cihan UZUN, Osmaniye Oilseeds Agricultural Research Institute Director Dr. Engin GÖNEN, Van Agricultural Research Institute Director Dr. Erdal ORMAN, TAGEM Project Team, our researchers working in the Institute Directorate participated.

In addition, Prof. Dr. Günnür KOÇAR, Prof. Dr. Nuri AZBAR from Ege University, Hande BECER from the Presidency Strategy and Budget Presidency, stakeholders from the relevant organizations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, provincial directorates of environment, urbanization and climate change, municipalities, NGOs and private sector companies participated and contributed to the meeting. Presentations were made by subject experts, mutual questions and answers and evaluations were made and developments in the sector were discussed. After the 2nd day presentations, in the closing speeches, our Deputy General Manager Dr. Şerafettin ÇAKAL and Field Crops Research Department Head Suat YILMAZ thanked all stakeholders who contributed to the project so far, especially the project team, and wished the project to be beneficial for our country.

The participants were given a tour of the laboratories of our Western Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute accompanied by expert researchers and the work carried out was explained. Then, they visited the Integrated Solid Waste Facility in Antalya Kızıllı. They were informed about the operation of the facility.