EİB Establishes Science and Technology Board for the Agricultural Sector

Ege İhracatçı Birlikleri Coordinator Vice Chairman Birol Celep noted that EİB members generated USD 11.75 billion in exports during January-November 2020, while EİB member agricultural exporters achieved USD 4.602 billion in exports during the same period, representing a 2% increase.

The EİB Science and Technology Board, formed with the participation of universities and research institutes under the umbrella of seven agricultural exporter associations of EİB, will focus on climate change, water use and traceability in European Union Green Deal projects and will apply to EU Green Deal project calls, for which the EU has allocated EUR 100 billion in funding, with projects to be developed on these topics.

Ege İhracatçı Birlikleri Science and Technology Board held its second meeting in an online format.

In his opening remarks at the meeting, EİB Coordinator Vice Chairman Celep stated that they aim to conduct work with all agricultural sectors acting jointly to address problems related to agricultural product yield, quality and food safety.

Emphasizing that they have established the EİB Science and Technology Board to address problems in the agricultural sector through industry-university cooperation, Celep said: "We aim to strengthen industry-university cooperation further and conduct results-oriented projects to increase value-added product exports through research and development and innovation opportunities. We want to apply to EU project calls under the EU's Green Deal. The importance of food has increased with the pandemic. Through the Agricultural Specialization Organized Industrial Zones to be established in Izmir and the Aegean Region and the projects conducted by our Science and Technology Board, we aim to increase our agricultural product exports, which currently stand at approximately USD 5 billion annually, to USD 10 billion."

EİB Science and Technology Board Chairman Mehmet Ali Işık emphasized the importance of training university students according to industry needs and assigning thesis topics to master's and doctoral students based on industry requirements.

Pointing out that climate change, water consumption, traceability, circular and sustainable production, and organic agriculture are among the main common topics on the agricultural sector's agenda, Işık said: "As Ege İhracatçı Birlikleri, we will work to submit a project to the EU's Green Deal program within this framework."

EİB Project Consultant Serkut Kızanlıklı made a presentation to the EİB Science and Technology Board members regarding EU project calls issued under the Green Deal framework. Kızanlıklı explained that the EU has allocated EUR 100 billion under the Green Deal/Yeşil Mutabakat program as part of the Horizon 2020 European Program, and that research and development and innovation projects containing innovative policies and addressing employment will be supported.

The EİB Science and Technology Board meeting was attended by Ege İhracatçı Birlikleri Coordinator Vice Chairman Birol Celep, Ege Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association Chairman Hayrettin Uçak, Ege Aquatic Products and Animal Products Exporters Association Chairman Bedri Girit, Ege Cereals Legumes Oil Seeds and Products Exporters Association Chairman Mustafa Terci, EİB Science and Technology Board Chairman Mehmet Ali Işık, Ecological Agriculture Organization Association Chairman Prof. Dr. Uygun Aksoy, academics and research institute directors.