Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality completes second medicinal plant harvest

The Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality’s Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Cultivation Project (TABİP) has completed its second harvest period at the R&D and production site located on the Kocaeli University Arslanbey campus in Kartepe. The project utilizes a 100-decare R&D area to identify plant species suitable for the local climate and soil structure, testing various cultivation techniques to establish technical infrastructure for regional producers.

During the recent harvest, female personnel employed by the municipality collected thyme, mint, and melissa from a 17-decare section of the field. These plants are transported to the municipality’s Distillation Center, where they are processed into essential oils and natural raw materials for use in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and dietary supplement industries.

The project follows a value-added model that extends from research and development to branding. Products derived from rosemary, medicinal mint, melissa, lavender, and thyme are marketed under the ‘Ormanya’ brand, appearing in consumer goods such as teas, colognes, and toothpastes.