Yazar: yahyadogan

Oliver Trainings in Çanakkale

Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University (ÇOMÜ), in collaboration with Ezine Food Specialization Organized Industrial Zone and Portugal’s Coimbra Polytechnic Institute, hosted the OLIVER Erasmus+ Project meeting at the Faculty of Agriculture Meeting Hall. Attending the meeting supported by the EU were Prof. Dr. R. Cüneyt Erenoğlu, Rector of ÇOMÜ; Prof. Dr. Ahmet Evren Erginal, Director of the Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences and Project Coordinator; Alper Altınok, Director of Ezine Food Specialization Organized Industrial Zone; Prof. Dr. Murat Şeker, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture; Prof. Dr. Yasemin Kavdır; representatives from NGOs; academics; and students.
The program commenced with opening speeches on various topics. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Evren Erginal addressed “OLIVER Trainings, Assessment, and Statistical Analysis,” while Alper Altınok discussed “Olive Cultivation in Çanakkale and Future Projects.” Prof. Dr. R. Cüneyt Erenoğlu focused on “OLIVER Project and New Goals in ÇOMÜ-Industry Collaboration.”
Project Coordinator Prof. Dr. Ahmet Evren Erginal emphasized the importance of focusing on local issues alongside high-quality olive and olive oil production. He stated, “We continue to address not only scientific research but also local issues. Our project prioritizes university-industry collaboration. With this project, we aim to plant olive saplings, maintain the soil before planting, and ensure all necessary care is provided. In the final stages of the project, information will be shared regarding marketing strategies.”
Alper Altınok, Director of Ezine Food Specialization Organized Industrial Zone, stressed their commitment to university-industry collaboration and expressed a desire to connect students with industry. He noted, “Turkey holds a significant position in olive production, particularly in Çanakkale. However, we lag behind countries like Spain in marketing. This project has helped us identify our shortcomings. One of the reasons for our inadequate marketing is our lack of branding. We will do our best to address these shortcomings. We have facilities and factories in Çanakkale, and we emphasize university-industry collaboration to connect our students with industry.”

Prof. Dr. R. Cüneyt Erenoğlu, Rector of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, underscored the critical role of the OLIVER Erasmus Project within the EU’s Erasmus+ Program and its potential for advancing Turkey’s olive sector. He continued, “As we all know, the olive tree was born in Anatolian lands, spread to the Mediterranean basin, and profoundly influenced the economies, dietary habits, and cultures of many civilizations throughout history. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in olive production in Anatolia, highlighting the potential for further advancement in this field. However, significant challenges remain in olive production, including the efficiency of traditional production methods, the succession of younger generations to this production method, and product quality. The OLIVER project aims to address these challenges.”
The project will explore various production methods, support young entrepreneurs and small-scale producers, enhance product quality, and develop marketing strategies. These efforts are expected to increase the income levels of olive producers, promote rural development, and prevent migration.
One of the most significant aspects of the OLIVER project is its promotion of university-industry collaboration. This collaboration aims to integrate traditional knowledge with modern technology and innovation to create a sustainable olive production system.
Following the opening speeches, participants took part in an online survey titled “What Do You Know About Olive Literacy?” Following the survey, Prof. Dr. Murat Şeker presented on “Main Challenges of High-Quality Olive Oil,” and Prof. Dr. Yasemin Kavdır discussed “Utilization of Olive Waste.”

Before the training seminar, practical training was provided to target groups by Dr. Assistant Professor Mehmet Ali Gündoğdu, Academic Advisor at the ÇOMÜ Olive Oil Analysis Laboratory, introducing the Çanakkale Science, Technology, and Research Center (ÇOBİLTUM) laboratories and conducting practical sessions on olive oil quality and purity analysis in the Olive Oil Analysis Laboratory.

Transnational Meeting in Coimbra

The transnational knowledge sharing meeting of the European Union project titled “University-Industry Cooperation for Production of High Quality Olive,” supported under the Erasmus+ Program Key Action 2 in Vocational Education, was held in Coimbra, Portugal. The meeting, hosted by Coimbra Polytechnic Institute, was attended by several key figures including Prof. Dr. R. Cüneyt Erenoğlu, Rector of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University (ÇOMÜ); Prof. Dr. Ahmet Evren Erginal, Director of ÇOMÜ Graduate School of Education; Prof. Dr. Murat Şeker, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture; Prof. Dr. Yasemin Kavdır; and Alper Altınok, Director of Ezine Food Specialization Industrial Zone.

In the first session of the meeting, after opening remarks from Prof. Dr. Vivina Carreira, project coordinator on behalf of Coimbra Polytechnic Institute, and other officials, Prof. Dr. R. Cüneyt Erenoğlu provided information about Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University’s Erasmus+ KA2 projects. Following this, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Evren Erginal, coordinator of the OLIVER project for ÇOMÜ, presented the project objectives, and Prof. Dr. Yasemin Kavdır shared the progress report of the OLIVER project with participants.

In the second session, presentations were given by Prof. Dr. Elsa Ramalhosa from Bragança Polytechnic Institute on “Olives from Trás-os-Montes, Portugal – merging tradition with innovation”; Dr. Susana Paixão from Coimbra Polytechnic Institute’s School of Health Technology on “Waste management in the context of circular economy”; João Pires from Bio4Plas on “Incorporation of olive kernel waste into plastics and bioplastics”; and Marije van denBoogaard, founder of Passeite & Evoo Sommelier, who also shared insights on high-quality extra virgin olive oil production in the Coimbra region.

Following a focus group meeting at Coimbra Polytechnic University, visits were made to cultural and natural heritage sites in the Abrantes region of central Portugal. Information was provided about Casa Anadia Olive Oil, produced in the traditional olive groves of Alferrarede covering an area of 100 hectares, with soils consisting of clay, limestone, and schist.

Subsequently, a visit was made to an olive oil extraction, storage, and packaging facility equipped with state-of-the-art technology in the Northern Industrial Zone of Abrantes, aiming to produce high-quality olive oil at low temperatures from a 250-hectare olive grove. The project team also had the opportunity to see the Mouchão olive tree, an ancient tree dated back 3350 years using dendrochronological methods.

Closing Meeting

The closing meeting of the project titled “University-Industry Cooperation for Production of High Quality Olive,” supported under the Erasmus+ Program Key Action 2 by the Turkish National Agency of the European Union Education and Youth Programs Center Presidency, was held at the Faculty of Agriculture Meeting Hall of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University (ÇOMÜ).

In attendance were Prof. Dr. R. Cüneyt Erenoğlu, Rector of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University; Nazan Türkarslan, Director of Çanakkale Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry; and Abdullah Deniz, President of Çanakkale Chamber of Commerce. Project Coordinator Prof. Dr. Ahmet Evren Erginal stated that the project serves as one of the best examples of university-industry cooperation.

Nazan Türkarslan, Director of Çanakkale Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, emphasized their efforts to increase olive production and efficiency, stating, “As the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, we are making intense efforts to increase olive production and efficiency. In this context, we will further develop our collaborations with Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University.”

Abdullah Deniz, President of Çanakkale Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the importance of productivity, sustainability, and branding in olive production, stating, “Çanakkale is one of the rare cities in the world with its air, water, and soil. Therefore, every product grown in Çanakkale is very valuable and productive.”

Following the screening of a short documentary outlining the project’s processes, Prof. Dr. R. Cüneyt Erenoğlu, Rector of ÇOMÜ, underscored the significance of olive production for Çanakkale and Turkey, stating, “Projects like this, realized through university-industry cooperation for high-quality olive production, are crucial. Continuity in such collaborations is very important, and we will continue to work together in this regard.”

After the opening speeches, certificates of appreciation were presented to those who contributed to the project.

The meeting concluded with presentations on the outputs of the OLIVER Erasmus+ Project and a panel titled “The Future of Olive and Olive Oil Production in Çanakkale and Sector Expectations.”