The closing program of the 'KOP and Local and National Purple Carrot Breeding Project' was held

The closing program of the "Local and National Purple Carrot Breeding Project with KOP", which was carried out in cooperation with Selçuk University and Konya Plain Project (KOP) Regional Development Administration, was held.

Selçuk University Rector Prof. Dr. Metin Aksoy, KOP Regional Development Administration President Dr. Murat Karakoyunlu, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Tuğrul Polat, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture Prof. Dr. Sait Gezgin, lecturers in the project team, KOP Regional Development Administration representatives and students attended the meeting held in the museum building.

Selcuk University Rector Prof. Dr. Metin Aksoy said that agriculture is among the basic elements in the development of nations. Stating that agriculture is at the forefront of countries' food security policies, Prof. Dr. Aksoy said, “As Selçuk University, we have prioritized being self-sufficient among our goals within the framework of the Century of  Türkiye vision determined by our President. Selçuk University is proud of doing its part in this regard and making progress in the development and food security of our country. Our university is proud to have the Faculty of Agriculture, which has rare lecturers who do the most research and develop projects in agricultural fields, especially food safety, and is one of the strongest faculties in the region with its knowledge in this field. Wherever there is a local and national project, wherever a local and national step is taken, there will always be a Selçuk University to support it. Because we can see that Selçuk University, which has been serving Anatolia and its own children for 50 years, has reached a much stronger position as of today. Together, we are proud to take an important step towards a self-sufficient, strong and independent Türkiye in agriculture. I would like to thank those who completed the project with great determination and those who contributed to the process.”

“PURPLE CARROT IS USED IN MANY FIELDS FROM FOOD TO TEXTILES”

KOP Regional Development Administration President Dr. Murat Karakoyunlu stated that Konya and its region have a strategic importance in carrot production. Stating that according to TUIK's 2022 data, 550 thousand tons of carrots were produced in an area of 85 thousand decares in the region, Dr.  Karakoyunlu said, “To get rid of foreign dependency on seeds and to develop seed production with local and national means is an important need that will contribute to the national economy as well as the regional economy. Based on this fact, our administration planned the Local and National Purple Carrot Breeding Project with KOP in 2020, together with experienced lecturers at Selçuk University Faculty of Agriculture. By establishing a comprehensive laboratory, we have provided our Faculty of Agriculture with an infrastructure that will enable more qualified projects to be produced in the future. The Local and National Purple Carrot Breeding Project offers other advantages that will contribute to the country's economy in addition to seed development. This product, which can be used in almost every field from food to textiles, will contribute with its natural coloring properties, which is an important need for our industry, will reduce import amounts, serve price balancing and ensure that the raw material needs for export are met under domestic market conditions."

“A QUALIFIED GENE POOL HAS BEEN CREATED”

Project Manager, Selçuk University Faculty of Agriculture Lecturer Prof. Dr. Önder Türkmen also made a presentation to promote the project. Türkmen noted the following: “As of the outputs of the project, we have a qualified laboratory. With this developed project, a qualified gene pool that can be used in purple carrot breeding was created. In addition, it is possible to detect male infertility mechanisms quickly and reliably under laboratory conditions from the genetic pool and newly available genetic resources. Thanks to all these techniques, it has become possible to move on to the second stage of domestic and national hybrid purple carrot variety breeding.”

After the program, Selçuk University Museum, which contains approximately 2,500 works from different continents and civilizations, was visited.

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