Universities actively involved in hemp business in Turkey
Considering the rich experience in conducting educational events in Ukraine , including within the framework of the Hemp University , it makes sense to contact Turkish universities to exchange experiences , as well as initiate and implement joint projects .
On the pages of the profile electronic publication of Ukrainian hemp breeders with the Hemp Consulting information and analytical platform , during the description of “ Problems and prospects for the development of hemp breeding in Turkey ”, interesting trends for Ukraine were observed related to the policy of the Turkish government regarding the possibility of providing universal information about the plant , advertising the study of various properties of hemp both in the scientific community and the possibility of its cultivation , processing , and use of agricultural and f oizvodstvennoy field Turkish society . Given the functioning of the “ Hemp University ” (including distance learning) on a permanent basis, it would be wrong not to ask the question of how the mechanisms for obtaining knowledge in the field of modern hemp breeding in Turkey differ from those that are practiced in Ukraine . Based on our wishes, Hemp Consulting specialists gave a brief description of the hemp breeding training process in Turkey , as well as noted certain trends that, unfortunately, are difficult to implement in our country .
The activity of government officials in the revival of hemp breeding in Turkey is systemic . In addition to changes to the current regulatory framework among higher educational institutions of the country , processes were initiated aimed at creating the missing links in production chains formed by Turkish hemp clusters . Naturally, this kind of event cannot be held without informational, analytical and scientific support . The specificity of Turkish hemp breeding is that the state provided the opportunity for several universities to actively deal with issues related to modern hemp breeding , and the faculty of various educational institutions are actively cooperating in this area and organizing a significant number of public education events aimed at training Turkish agricultural producers the specifics of cultivation , as well as the processing of hemp . It can be said that the emerging Turkish universities specializing in hemp subjects have identified specific issues on which their employees are actively working, and not only private, but also public funds are being actively involved in conducting research . Currently, the maximum activity in the field of educational and scientific activity of Turkish hemp breeding is shown by the following universities :
- Bozok University ( bioenergy , light industry , biocomposites , construction , cellulose );
- University of Medical Sciences ( pharmacology , medicine );
- Aydin University of Applied Food Research ( food ).
Bozok University (Yozgat)
The system of events under the general name “ Technical hemp ” was submitted by the administration of the Bozok University (Yozgat Bozok Üniversitesi) to the Higher Education Council of Turkey as part of the competition “ Universities Oriented for Regional Development” as a “Project for Differentiation and Specialization of Targeted Missions for Regional Development” . The above-mentioned project was one of the winners of the competitive selection, therefore, the University was approved by the Higher Education Council of Turkey for the relevant specialization. Thus, Bozok University became one of the first higher educational institutions ( universities ) of the country , which officially specializes in scientific activities in the field of industrial hemp breeding in Turkey . In particular, the rector of the University, Ahmet Karadağ, said in an interview that “We are thinking of becoming the country's leading university in the production of hemp batteries. We hope that we will create a technology that can further produce hemp batteries, which will be used in the production of new models of Turkish cars. ”
According to the University , at the moment the faculty is preparing documents for the Higher Education Council of Turkey in order to create the “ Cannabis Institute ” on their basis . This is necessary in order for the state to be able to provide financing to a specialized university , and it, in turn, will create several research centers that can do everything possible to turn hemp plants into “ industrial crops ”. In particular, Mr. Karadag on one of the activities focused on the fact that "the main areas of activity created" Cannabis Institute "should be the research associated with hemp technologies , suggesting the creation of products with high added value . Institute staff will focus on the use of hemp raw materials in the field of modern bioenergy . In addition, the research centers of the newly created Institute will specialize in work in the field of light industry (the production of textile and knitwear ), biocomposite materials (primarily in the interests of the automotive industry), the creation of pulp , as well as the construction business . According to representatives of the University , hemp plant will allow Yozgat to become a center for studying the capabilities of the plant , as well as creating modern technologies for its processing.
A special feature of the activities in the field of industrial hemp breeding at Bozok University specialists is the holding on a regular basis of seminars for agricultural producers under the general thematic name “ Fundamentals of Cannabis Cultivation ”. In particular, for the farmers who applied for plant cultivation in Yozgat province, relevant training courses were held both in 2019 and already in 2020. In addition, the faculty of Bozok University is actively helping other universities in the country in their work aimed at training specialists in the field of modern hemp breeding . In particular, the Vice-Rector of Bozok University Professor Gungur Yilmaz regularly participates in specialized hemp events organized by Aydin University of Applied Food Research and the University of Medical Sciences.
University of Medical Sciences (Istanbul)
Hemp seminars are regularly organized at the University of Medical Sciences (Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi). The leadership of this university during speeches at various events dedicated to modern hemp breeding regularly emphasizes that the University’s specialists are actively working to create technologies for the most effective use of hemp's therapeutic properties in medicine , as well as to study the consequences of the widespread use of plants in the health sector . In particular, the rector of the University, Cevdet Erdöl, focuses on the fact that “the leaves and inflorescences , seeds , root , and also the stem of the plant have been used in medicine since ancient times . At the moment, various ingredients of hemp plant are not only actively used for the production of biologically active / feed additives or effective pharmacological preparations , in modern medicine, durable and durable materials with powerful antiseptic, antibacterial, antiviral properties are used everywhere . ”
Aydin University of Applied Food Research (Istanbul)
Since 2018 on the basis of the University of Applied Research Food Aydin (İstanbul Aydın Üniversitesi) in collaboration with the Ministry of Food , Agriculture and Livestock Research Institute Ataturk horticultural center and Berkin Energy organizes the annual hemp forums . Without going into the details of the event, we will voice the issues that were considered during its conduct over 3 years:
• a place of hemp among a huge range of crops;
• adaptation of varieties and features of hemp cultivation in Turkey ;
• the possibility of using the therapeutic properties of hemp ;
• legislative features of plant cultivation in the world and in Turkey ;
• mechanisms for monitoring the legal cultivation of psychoactive hemp in the territory of individual EU countries ;
• use of plants in the pharmaceutical and food industries ;
• opportunities to create biocomposite materials based on hemp raw materials ;
• Prospects for the use of hemp in the territory of the European Union ;
• historical and legal foundations of modern hemp breeding ;
• The economic feasibility of growing hemp in Turkey ;
• medical hemp and technologies for its use , used in economically developed countries of the world ;
• properties of hemp as a phytoremedient;
• specifics of hemp plant cultivation in the Black Sea region;
• opportunities for the universal use of hemp in the project "Revival of the village";
• use of hemp in the pulp and paper industry ;
• hemp is a strategic raw material used in bioenergy ;
• biopolymers and bioplastics made from hemp. The possibilities of their use in the Turkish economy .
Commentary experts of the Association "Ukrainian industrial hemp"
The activity of Turkish universities in the field of studying the problems of modern hemp breeding has one significant drawback - throughout the entire period of the rapid development of Turkish hemp breeding, the issue of providing this farming sector with high-quality breeding and seed material has not yet been raised . This shortcoming of Turkish hemp breeders must be used by national companies specializing in breeding and seed production of technical hemp , as the Turkish market is extremely interesting both in terms of its volume and rapid development, and in terms of investing significant financial resources in creating capacities for primary and deep processing . The traditional cornerstone in all business plans being developed is the question of the stable provision of the planned production with high-quality seed material .
Considering the rich experience in conducting educational events in Ukraine , including within the framework of the Hemp University , it makes sense to contact the above universities in Turkey to exchange experiences , as well as initiate and implement joint projects .