As a result of the studies carried out in cooperation with Kastamonu University, Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University and Turkish Sugar Factories Inc. (Türkşeker), the harvest of “Türkşeker 2023” and “Türkşeker 2053”, Turkey's first registered domestic sugar beet seeds, started in Merzifon district of Amasya.
As a result of the studies carried out in cooperation with Kastamonu University, Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University and Turkish Sugar Factories Inc. (Türkşeker), the harvest of “Türkşeker 2023” and “Türkşeker 2053”, Turkey's first registered domestic sugar beet seeds, started in Merzifon district of Amasya.
On April 4, 2024, domestic sugar beet varieties were registered in the “National Variety List”, taking an important step towards reducing Turkey's dependence on foreign sugar beet production. Turkey's capacity to use its seeds in sugar beet production will strengthen domestic agriculture and make production processes more sustainable.
On January 28, 2022, following the production permit issued by the Ankara Seed Registration and Certification Center Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Cengiz Baloğlu from our University, Prof. Dr Songül Gürel and Prof. Dr. Ekrem Gürel from Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, and Türkşeker's expert staff carried out meticulous studies in the process of developing sugar beet seeds. Within this framework, detailed analyses were conducted on the quality and efficiency of the seeds.
The harvested seeds will be distributed to beet farmers in the spring of next year. This distribution is essential in integrating domestic seeds into agricultural production and making them available to farmers nationwide. Farmers will have the opportunity to realize more efficient and sustainable production by taking advantage of the advantages provided by domestic seeds.
Our Rector expressed his satisfaction with the positive results of last year's cooperation and emphasized that university-industry cooperation will make significant contributions to the national economy. Our Rector thanked all the academic staff who contributed to the study and thanked Dr Muhiddin Şahin, General Manager of TÜRKŞEKER and Prof. Dr Erol Özvar, President of Higher Education Council (YÖK), for their encouragement and support for university-industry cooperation.
