On February 26, as part of our SolarHub project, we held our first farmer workshop in Ankara at the TAGEM Soil, Fertilizer, and Water Resources Central Research Institute Directorate and the Water Resources Central Research Institute. The event, coordinated by TAGEM and ODTÜ-GÜNAM, brought together our project partners, including Middle East Technical University (METU), Ege University, Solimpeks, GÜNDER, Kalyon PV, and the Turkish Chambers of Agriculture Union (TZOB).
📌 The workshop began with an opening speech by Mahmut Sami ÇİFTCİ, the director of the Soil, Fertilizer, and Water Resources Central Research Institute, followed by an introduction to TAGEM’s capacities. Then, Prof. Dr. Rasit Turan (Chairman of ODTÜ-GÜNAM and SiPV Unit Coordinator) presented an overview of solar energy technologies and the SolarHub project.
Subsequently, key discussions included:
🔹 A representative from TZOB addressed the impacts of the global climate crisis and energy crisis on agricultural producers.
🔹 Dr. Duygu Kuzyaka (ODTÜ-GÜNAM/MODTEC Unit Senior Researcher) presented the design of Agrivoltaic (Agri-PV) systems and their relationship with agricultural productivity.
🔹 Assoc. Prof. Dr. Neslihan ÇOLAK (EÜ-GEE / ODTÜ-GÜNAM/MODTEC Unit Lead Researcher) shared insights on irrigation, fertilization, and pest control solutions in Agri-PV systems.
🔹 Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zeynep Demir (TGSKMAE) discussed solar panel applications in agriculture and sustainable farming approaches on farms.
🌿 After a laboratory tour, interactive sessions explored the future of Agrivoltaic systems and their impact on agricultural production. Several key topics were evaluated with agricultural stakeholders, including economic opportunities, technical challenges, and agricultural benefits.
Discussions included:
🔹 Dr. Duygu Kuzyaka (ODTÜ-GÜNAM/MODTEC Unit Senior Researcher) on Crop Selection, Diversity, and Agri-PV Systems’ Impact on Agricultural Production.
🔹 Assoc. Prof. Dr. Talat Özden (MODTEC Unit Coordinator) and Dr. Güneş Kurtuluş (ODTÜ-GÜNAM/MODTEC Unit Researcher) on Field Applications, Agricultural Activities, and Implementation Challenges of Agri-PV Systems.
🔹 Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pınar Derin Güre (METU, Department of Economics) on Economic Opportunities and Challenges of Agri-PV Systems.
🔹 Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zeynep Demir (TGSKMAE) on The Future of Labor in Agriculture and Employment Requirements.
🔹 Atilla Polat (TAGEM) on Innovation and Technology Needs in Agriculture.
🔹 Dr. Hande Eryılmaz (ODTÜ-GÜNAM/ODAK Unit Senior Researcher) on Future Collaborations and Policy Requirements in Agriculture, engaging with farmers and agricultural consultants.
🚀 We will continue to strengthen our collaboration with agricultural stakeholders in Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Thessaloniki, and Athens!
🌟 Special thanks to our Project Coordinator, Prof. Dr. Derek Baker, and all our stakeholders for their invaluable support!
