2.5.1 Access to food security knowledge

BOĞAZİÇİ MENSUPLARI TÜKETİM KOOPERATİFİ (BÜKOOP)

Boğaziçi Mensupları Tüketim Kooperatifi (BÜKOOP) is a consumption cooperative that brings together local farmers and producers with consumers without intermediaries and aims to provide healthy and fair food at affordable prices. BÜKOOP, which is non-profit and organised entirely by volunteer labour, operates as a public space for both product sales and information sharing about food safety and production processes.

Events and Meetings

Documentary Film Screening: Gödence in the 50th Anniversary of Izmir Cooperative Movement (15 December)

• Documentary film screening specially organised for the 50th anniversary of the Izmir cooperative movement.

Notes from the interview with Özcan Kokulu, President of Gödence Cooperative (16 May)

• Interview with Özcan Kokulu, President of Gödence Agricultural Development Cooperative and notes taken.

Notes from the interview with Tuncay Topuz from Doğanbey Cooperative (21 March)

• Notes from the interview with Tuncay Topuz from Doğanbey Cooperative.

Notes from the Interview with Ayhan Kaleli (16 February )

• An interview with Ayhan Kaleli, a rice producer in Yusufeli, Artvin, and notes taken.

Justice in Space - Hope Archive 2019: On Bükoop (9 February )

• Investigations and video recording on BUKOOP.

Is Cheap Organic Food Possible? (4 February )

• Discussions on the new generation of consumer co-operatives and shopping groups' access to organic food.

7 December Long Saturday (3 December )

• Last long Saturday event of the year and event details.

Vakıflı Cooperative Visit Notes (26 November)

• Notes and observations from Hatay Vakıflı visit.

Bayramiç Producer Visit Notes (5 November )

• Visits and observations with Bayramiç producer.

Sourdough Bread Workshop Notes (27 September)

• Notes and photographs from a sourdough bread making workshop.

Article on Bükoop as a Case Study (2 August)

• Article on BÜKOOP as a case study and the results of the review.

BÜKOOP Baraka

BÜKOOP Baraka is open every weekday from 13:00-13:30 and 17:00-17:30 by volunteer guards. Baraka is also open from 11:30-14:30 during the Long Saturday event organised on the first Saturday of each month, where information is shared, questions are answered and trusting relationships are established between consumers and producers.

Objectives

• Inspire the establishment of BÜKOOP-like consumer co-operative models in neighbourhoods and workplaces.
• Encouraging the establishment of new consumer co-operatives and providing solutions to the major problems faced by both small producers and consumers in food, agriculture and livestock.
• To ensure that healthy, chemical-free products are accessible to all income groups.
• To establish long-term relationships based on trust between consumers and producers through field visits and producer interviews.

These events and meetings aim to both support small producers and provide consumers with access to safe and healthy food.

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Europe's first carbon negative biorefinery is operating at Boğaziçi University!

The first carbon-negative biorefinery of Turkey and Europe was established at Boğaziçi University Kilyos Sarıtepe Campus. Established within the scope of the Integrated Biorefinery Concept for Bioeconomy-Driven Development Project (INDEPENDENT) and officially opened on 7 January 2022, the biorefinery will produce 11 different algae-based biotechnological products. The successful test of biojet fuel, which stands out among these, was carried out in a minijet engine with the participation of Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Dönmez, Head of the EU Delegation to Turkey Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut and Boğaziçi University Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Naci İnci.

"WE PRODUCE SOLUTIONS TO MACRO PROBLEMS WITH MICRO ALGAE"

INDEPENDENT Project Coordinator Dr. Lecturer. Prof. Dr. Berat Haznedaroğlu shared the information that they were able to meet 10 out of 17 of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals with the R&D activities and products put forward thanks to the project. Stating that they have produced solutions to macro problems such as the climate crisis based on algae, although their size is micro. Prof Haznedaroğlu summarised the project as follows:

"The INDEPENDENT project is a project designed to bring solutions to the global climate crisis and raw material supply problems caused by the pandemic, which deeply affects not only Europe but also the world today. Due to the increase in the world population, our need for energy and food is increasing day by day. We still meet most of our energy needs from fossil fuels. For this reason, global carbon dioxide levels have now reached 417 ppm all over the world. While this situation confronts us with climate disasters, it also negatively affects the agriculture and livestock sectors, especially due to the damage to agricultural lands. We have algae that can provide solutions to these macro problems despite their micro size. Microalgae perform the most efficient photosynthesis in the world. This means that they grow rapidly and capture large amounts of carbon dioxide from the air. It is possible to integrate algae production lines in industries that emit large amounts of flue gases, such as petrochemicals and cement. We produce our algae in completely closed reactor lines in open and closed pool systems. The products we obtain are developed for different sectors." 

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The Competitive Strength of Agricultural Cooperatives in Turkey is Being Strengthened with Boğaziçi University

The AGRICOMPET project, led by Prof. Dr. Gökhan Özertan, a faculty member of the Department of Economics at Boğaziçi University, aims to improve the institutional and organisational structure of agricultural cooperatives in Turkey with the support of the European Union (EU).

The project, which includes Turkey, Spain, Italy, France, and Greece, is being carried out under the EU's PRIMA programme, with the Turkish component being undertaken by TÜBİTAK.

The project involves conducting comprehensive surveys of cooperative managers and preparing inclusive roadmaps to enable cooperatives to work more efficiently and effectively. Prof. Dr. Özertan emphasises that the project focuses particularly on developing the e-commerce infrastructure and structure of cooperatives. Through collaboration with Marmarabirlik, Trakyabirlik, and Hayrabolu Önder Çiftçi Danışmanlık Derneği, field data and scenarios are analysed to develop concrete solutions.

The project not only strengthens international collaborations but also facilitates the transfer of experiences from different countries to Turkey's agriculture and food sector. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024, with the aim of widely implementing its results in agricultural cooperatives.

https://haberler.bogazici.edu.tr/tr/news/bilim/4/turkiyede-tarim-sektorundeki-kooperatiflerin-/2804

2024 Sustainability Report SDG-2 (Related Section)

Access to Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture Information

Boğaziçi University Innovative Agriculture and Food Business Platform

Boğaziçi University Innovative Agriculture and Food Business Platform (Bountarım) aims to facilitate local farmers and food producers' access to knowledge, skills and technology on food safety by supporting sustainable agricultural practices in the Turkish agriculture and food sector. The platform promotes innovation in the agriculture sector and contributes to agribusinesses in technology integration and digital transformation processes.

Contributions offered by the Bountarım Platform:

Training Programmes: Bountarım Platform offers comprehensive training programmes for professionals, entrepreneurs and consultants in the agricultural sector in areas such as innovative agribusiness, technology use, entrepreneurship, marketing, finance and risk management. Organised as two separate certificate programmes for managers and producers, these trainings aim to provide up-to-date knowledge and skills on new generation agricultural practices and management. The trainings are given by faculty members from Boğaziçi University and the world's leading universities and industry experts, and participants who successfully complete the programme are awarded the Boğaziçi University Lifelong Education Centre Certificate.

Click here to view the programmes:

Boğaziçi University Innovative Agriculture and Food Business Platform

Integrated Biorefinery Concept for Bioeconomy Driven Development

Within the framework of the Integrated Biorefinery Concept for Bioeconomy Oriented Development (INDEPENDENT) project, the goal is to enhance awareness regarding knowledge and technology-driven economic development across the food, agriculture, animal husbandry, health, energy, and environmental sectors. To achieve this, plans are in place to organize training sessions and establish an information access platform aimed at promoting the use of algae-based biotechnology products. This initiative will facilitate communication among all stakeholders involved in these sectors, foster effective collaboration, provide guidance for strategic decision-making, and support research and development activities. Beyond its scientific and technological contributions, the INDEPENDENT team will offer resources, databases, and literature on relevant information, documents, and legislation to aid sector stakeholders in their critical and strategic planning. In this regard, the INDEPENDENT project will bridge the knowledge and technology gap in microalgae biotechnologies by disseminating products and processing methods through awareness-raising and practical knowledge development.

Training Modules:

• Fundamentals of Seaweed Cultivation   
• Algae Biotechnologies
• Large-Scale Seaweed Production and Processing

For more information please click here: INDEPENDENT Project

BÜYEM Corporate Social Responsibility Projects

Boğaziçi University Lifelong Learning Centre (BÜYEM) provides trainings to agricultural entrepreneurs as part of its social responsibility projects.

Past BÜYEM trainings for agricultural entrepreneurs:

My Knowledge, My Abundance: Within the scope of the project carried out in cooperation with the Inclusive Growth Association, a series of seminars were organised with the contributions of Izmir Commodity Exchange and Izmir Provincial Directorate of Agriculture to inform farmers on financial literacy and good agricultural practices.

My Knowledge, My Abundance Project

Agricultural Entrepreneurs School: Within the scope of the project, which has been ongoing since 2013 in cooperation with Pepsi, trainings are organised to improve the agricultural and managerial skills of farmers. Since its inception, 240 farmers in Karacabey and Akçadağ have participated in the programme.