Thanks to the glass greenhouse, the construction of which started in cooperation with Gebze Technical University and GÜBRETAŞ, it is planned to contribute to local and national plant nutrition activities.

The glass greenhouse, which was built in cooperation with Gebze Technical University (GTÜ) and GÜBRETAŞ, one of the leading companies in the agricultural sector, aims to contribute to local plant nutrition efforts.

GTÜ Biotechnology Institute Deputy Director Doctoral Faculty Member Ümit Barış Kutman, in his statement to the AA correspondent, reminded that a 10-year cooperation protocol was signed between GTÜ and GÜBRETAŞ in 2019 with the initiatives of the Biotechnology Institute.

Kutman emphasized that GÜBRETAŞ is a company that is very willing to conduct R&D and develop new products in areas that will add value to agriculture, and noted that it is currently one of the largest companies in Turkey in its sector.

Mentioning that private sector and university collaborations are very important, Kutman stated that they have started to prepare projects to develop new products within the scope of this collaboration that will last 10 years.

Kutman stated that as GTÜ, they established the Biotechnology Institute in the process that started 3 years ago, and noted that one of the areas where both postgraduate education and R&D studies at the Biotechnology Institute focus is "Plant Biotechnology" and sustainable plant nutrition projects in this field.

“UNfortunately, DOMESTIC PRODUCTION IS FAR FROM THE LEVEL WE WANT”

Kutman stated that the importance of agricultural production studies was understood even more after the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic.

Pointing out that national agricultural studies are very important in the country, Kutman said:

“Unfortunately, domestic production of plant nutrition products, especially these biotechnological products, is far from the level we want. Most of the raw materials are imported. There are question marks regarding the content and effectiveness of biotechnological products. In this regard, both basic science research and product development studies need to continue increasingly. As GTÜ, our biggest shortcoming for research in this field was that we did not have a modern R&D greenhouse. Although there is a very serious industrial and population density in our region, research in this field is very inadequate. So we said let's lead this. GTÜ and GÜBRETAŞ started working on the creation of the R&D greenhouse with co-financing. “We are establishing a 500 square meter glass R&D greenhouse.”

Kutman stated that the investment cost of plastic covered greenhouses, which are widely used in commercial production in Turkey, is relatively low, however, the technical features of these greenhouses are insufficient for R&D activities at international standards.

PLANT FOODS WILL BE PRODUCED FOR LOCAL AND NATIONAL AGRICULTURE

Emphasizing that a lot of investment is needed to establish an R&D greenhouse at international standards, Kutman continued his words as follows:

“The greenhouse we will build is called a Venlo type greenhouse. Venlo type greenhouses have a unique roof structure. These are greenhouses with high ceilings, which allow tall plants to be grown and where the climatic conditions inside are very homogeneous. These are very important features for quality and reliability in R&D studies. The greenhouse will have many equipment from heating to cooling, from shading to lighting, and an automation system to control these equipment. In this greenhouse, studies can be carried out both on soil conditions and in the aquaculture environment for soilless agriculture. We believe that, thanks to the R&D greenhouse, GTÜ Biotechnology Institute will become an important center of attraction for research in the field of agricultural biotechnology and plant nutrition. With the development of local and national plant nutrition products, one of the output-oriented examples of university-industry cooperation will emerge in Turkey. Projects will be carried out in the greenhouse to reduce the foreign dependency of agriculture in Turkey, especially the plant nutrition sector. "Priority will be given to the development of biotechnological products that respect nature and humans."

THE GREENHOUSE IS PLANNED TO BE COMPLETED IN THE SUMMER MONTHS

Stating that they plan to start working on the R&D greenhouse after the construction is completed in the summer, Kutman pointed out that in order for the glass greenhouse to be operated properly, there must be a technical and administrative building including laboratories, offices and warehouse areas.

Kutman stated that, in this context, the construction of the administrative and technical building, which was built with the support they received from the Pendik Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (PESİAD), is also progressing rapidly.

Explaining that after the greenhouse studies, field trials will be required for the products developed here, Kutman said that GTÜ has fertile lands suitable for use as trial areas and that GTÜ Rector Prof. Dr. He said that Muhammed Hasan Aslan initially opened a 10-decare trial land to the Biotechnology Institute to be used in studies in this field.

Source: Anadolu Agency/ Şengül AZBAY