“Niğde Province Genetic Resources Awareness Project” Comes to Life

Within the scope of the 2026 6th term call of the University Student Communities Cooperation and Support Program (UNİDES), a total of 6,659 project applications were submitted, and 1,378 of these projects were entitled to receive support. The “Niğde Province Genetic Resources Awareness Project,” presented by the Genetic Resources Club of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies—and one of the 12 projects from our university to receive this funding—is now being implemented.

Academically advised by Prof. Dr. Ayhan Ceyhan and coordinated by Esmanur Nergis, this project aims to draw attention to the importance of the plant and animal genetic resources found in Niğde province. It also seeks to increase public awareness regarding the protection of these resources and ensure their transfer to future generations.

Within the scope of the project, collaborations will be established with relevant institutions and organizations. Various information and promotional activities will be carried out, specifically guided by local knowledge gathered from experienced farmers. In this framework, the goals are to promote the existing genetic resources in Niğde, disseminate information about them, and raise awareness for their conservation. Additionally, strengthening the cooperation among relevant stakeholder institutions will be one of the project's key outputs.

The project is supported by the Niğde Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, the Niğde Chamber of Agriculture, and the Niğde Provincial Directorate of National Education as stakeholders. Through these collaborations, the project aims to compile, evaluate, and promote local knowledge concerning the plant, animal, and natural genetic resources of Niğde province.