Mersin and Bursa launch agricultural support and innovation initiatives

In Mersin, the Metropolitan Municipality is implementing a large-scale biological control program to combat the Mediterranean fruit fly. The initiative aims to distribute 80,000 pheromone traps to approximately 2,700 producers by the end of 2026. This support targets small-scale farmers with production areas between 1 and 12 decares. The program seeks to prevent significant crop losses, which can reach up to 90% in certain fruits like persimmons, while maintaining fruit quality and yield.

Separately, Bursa Technical University (BTÜ) has launched a TÜBİTAK-supported research project to increase the economic value of hazelnut residue. Currently used primarily as low-value animal feed, the residue is being studied for the simultaneous extraction of protein, oil, and polysaccharides using an ultrasound-assisted three-phase partitioning (TPP) method. The project aims to transform this agricultural byproduct into high-value components for use in plant-based foods, functional foods, and various biotechnology applications.