The 3rd Sustainable Agriculture Workshop Held at Our University

The 3rd Sustainable Agriculture Workshop, titled “New Approaches in Plant Health,” was organized by our University’s Faculty of Agriculture with the aim of advancing sustainable agricultural practices.

During the workshop, topics such as new technologies for the early detection of plant diseases, biological and integrated methods for pest control, applications that strengthen plant immunity, and the effects of climate change on plant health were discussed.

The workshop, held at the Erdoğan Akdağ Congress and Culture Center, was attended by our University’s Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Fuat Köksal, Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Güngör Yılmaz and Prof. Dr. Tansel Hacıhasanoğlu, Yozgat Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Ömer Şentürk, along with academicians and students.

In his opening speech, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Alkan, a faculty member of the Department of Plant Protection at our University’s Faculty of Agriculture and Chair of the Workshop Organizing Committee, stated: “Through this workshop, we aim to bring together current scientific developments, new research findings, and practical experiences in the field of plant health, thereby enhancing knowledge sharing and contributing to the establishment of new collaborations.”

Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Dr. Tuğrul Yakuoğlu, emphasized that global crises have made the strategic importance of agriculture more visible, noting that sustainable agriculture and the protection of ecosystems are no longer a choice but a necessity.

Yozgat Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry, Ömer Şentürk, stated: “Ensuring sustainable agricultural production without harming soil, water, and air, and achieving the transformation we desire, should be a shared goal and a national duty for all citizens of this country.”

Our University’s Vice Rector, Prof. Dr. Güngör Yılmaz, highlighted in his speech that sustainability is one of the most important issues of our time. He emphasized the importance of instilling sustainability awareness in society and stated that scientific research and data production in this field would guide policymakers.

Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Fuat Köksal noted that agriculture is not only about food production but also a strategic sector that supports economic development and protects environmental balance. Emphasizing that plant health is a fundamental component of agricultural production, he stated that production methods are as important as production quantity, adding: “Healthy soil and healthy food mean a healthy society.”

Following the opening speeches, the workshop continued with scientific sessions.

The first session, chaired by our Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Güngör Yılmaz, featured presentations by Prof. Dr. Umut Toprak from Ankara University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Plant Protection, and Prof. Dr. Ayhan Gökçe from Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies, Department of Plant Production and Technologies.

The second session was chaired by Prof. Dr. Uğur Başaran from our University’s Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field Crops. In this session, Prof. Dr. Mahmut Murat Aslan from Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University and Prof. Dr. Ali Mehrvar from Ankara University addressed the participants.

During the sessions, current developments in plant health, new approaches to combating diseases and pests, and sustainable production techniques were discussed, providing participants with comprehensive insights.