At a time when the strategic importance of agricultural production continues to grow, Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Faculty of Agriculture organized the “180th Anniversary of the Start of Agricultural Education and Agriculture Day Commemoration Ceremony.”

Held at the Atatürk Congress Center, the event was attended by Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Çetin Kurnaz, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture Prof. Dr. Muharrem Özcan, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Prof. Dr. Mehmet Tütüncü, Samsun Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Kemal Yılmaz, President of the Samsun Branch of the Turkish Union of Agricultural Engineers with MSc Prof. Dr. Ferhat Uzun, President of the Samsun Branch of the Chamber of Agricultural Engineers Havva Yurdunuseven Bayzat, as well as academics and students.

Vice Rector Kurnaz: “Türkiye holds an important position in agriculture with its land and production capacity”

In his opening speech, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Çetin Kurnaz stated:

“Although I have spent most of my professional life as an engineer working in technical fields, I am someone who grew up closely connected to agriculture. From an early age, I learned through experience how valuable soil is, how much effort production requires, and that agriculture is not merely an economic activity but also a strategic power. While speaking about agriculture and food today, I would like to share the perspective these personal experiences have given me. Türkiye holds an important position in agriculture with its land resources and production capacity. In recent years, significant developments have taken place in agriculture through technology and science. I believe that if the right steps are taken, our country can advance much further in agriculture. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the organization of this program and all our distinguished guests for their participation, and I respectfully greet you all.”

Dean Özcan: “One of the most important strategic resources in human life is agriculture and food”

Beginning his remarks by referring to the historical establishment of the Faculty of Agriculture, Dean Prof. Dr. Muharrem Özcan said:

“One of the most important strategic resources in human life; indeed, perhaps the most important; is agriculture and food. In a world population that has reached 8.3 billion, while 2.7 billion people suffer from health problems related to excess weight and obesity, 900 million people face undernourishment and hunger. Unfortunately, approximately 18,000 people lose their lives every day due to hunger.”

“Waste and inequality in food distribution create the perception of food insufficiency”

Continuing his speech, Prof. Dr. Özcan stated:

“Although the world population has increased by 150 percent over the last 60 years, agricultural production has grown at a rate two to three times higher than population growth. Looking at the last 20 years, while global population growth was 25 percent, global agricultural production increased by 54 percent, reaching 9.8 billion tons. When agricultural and food production data are evaluated together with population growth rates, it is clear that despite many global challenges, there is no actual insufficiency in food production and supply worldwide. However, production losses, post-harvest losses, waste, and inequalities in food distribution lead to the perception of food insufficiency.”

“In many countries, people are condemned to hunger and deprivation despite rich resources”

Drawing attention to recent global developments, Prof. Dr. Özcan emphasized that regional and global processes experienced in recent years show that the world can no longer remain the same, and that agriculture and food have become elements of power balance. He noted that in today’s world—where the powerful apply their own interests instead of universal law, and where people in many countries are condemned to hunger and deprivation despite abundant resources, the importance of being strong and not ignoring existing problems has increased even further. He stated that everyone must demonstrate this awareness for both today and the future.

“The importance of agricultural engineering has increased”

Addressing the importance of agricultural education and human resources, Prof. Dr. Özcan stated that there is an increasing need for agricultural engineers who can connect farmers with knowledge and technology, as well as for all stakeholders contributing to this sector. He emphasized that this has increased the importance of agricultural education and agricultural engineering, and that training qualified professionals for this field is of great significance—something that can only be achieved through high-quality agricultural education and training.

Finally, Prof. Dr. Özcan noted that technological developments around the world have been incorporated into undergraduate and graduate curricula as courses or topics, thereby enhancing graduate competencies in line with the requirements of the era.

Prof. Dr. Uzun: “We have now caught up with long-established seed companies abroad”

Speaking next, Prof. Dr. Ferhat Uzun, President of the Samsun Branch of the Turkish Union of Agricultural Engineers with MSc, said:

“In an article published in the periodical of the Turkish Union of Agricultural Engineers with MSc, I came across information indicating that Türkiye’s agricultural productivity is similar to that of the central regions of the United States. This information was truly enlightening for me. Later, we had the opportunity to research these issues abroad and saw that it was indeed possible to reach similar yield levels in our country. This significantly increased our self-confidence. Subsequently, upon the suggestion of a colleague working in the seed sector—who said, ‘Employment may increase in this field; you may consider focusing on it’; I turned toward the seed industry. Over the years, we have witnessed major developments in the sector, particularly driven by the private sector. Türkiye’s history in seed production spans approximately 30–40 years. However, today, we have caught up with long-established seed companies abroad. We have hundreds of seed varieties and have made very substantial progress in this field.”

Following the opening speeches, Dr. Ersin Dilber, Director General of Food and Control at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, delivered a presentation. In his presentation, Dr. Dilber shared information on the ministry’s ongoing practices and projects in the field of agriculture.

Dr. Ersin Dilber: “We have a food inspection system that is better than in most countries”

Dr. Dilber stated that approximately 730,000 food establishments in Türkiye are inspected through a risk-based inspection system. Explaining that each establishment has a risk score, he said:

“Each establishment has a risk score, and based on that score, some establishments are inspected five times a year, while others may not be visited at all. However, Türkiye has 730,000 establishments, and we inspect them using a risk-based approach. To give a concrete example, a market with a butcher section is not the same as a small grocery store for me. If I inspect a market with a butcher section five times, I may not need to visit the grocery store at all. This is because the nature of the business differs, and the owner may already be very meticulous; sometimes even more careful than we are. This forms the foundation of our risk-based inspection system. I will not go into the inspection figures, but to be clear: with more than 8,000 inspectors across 81 provinces and 922 districts, we have a food inspection system that is better than that of most countries in the world, ensuring safe food for the public. When risks arise, we also conduct sector-specific inspections.”

Afterwards, the Başak (Spike) Choir, comprising faculty members and students, performed folk songs. The program concluded with a Gowning Ceremony for assistant professors who had achieved academic promotion.