69th IAAS World Congress Opens with Enthusiastic Ceremony

The 69th IAAS World Congress, organized by the International Association of Agricultural Students (IAAS), officially began with an opening ceremony. Bringing together students, academics, and industry representatives from various countries around the world, the opening ceremony began with a moment of silence and the Turkish National Anthem, followed by protocol speeches.

The first speech of the opening program was given by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zeynep Ünal, IAAS Turkey Academic Advisor and co-chair of the congress. Highlighting the importance of science, agriculture, and international cooperation, Ünal stated that the congress serves as an important platform for sharing knowledge and experience for young people.

Serhat Hazar Ozan, IAAS Turkey National Director and Congress President, then took the podium. Ozan expressed his pleasure in hosting participants from all over the world in Türkiye and wished for a fruitful congress.

The opening program also included speeches by Cavit Çağlar Çankaya, Deputy Chairman of the Agriculture and Forestry Youth Assembly; Kemal Akman, Vice President of the Turkish Branch of the Poultry Association (WPSA); İlker Ağın, President of the İzmir Branch of the Turkish Agriculturalists Foundation; Abdullah Berk Akkaş, Board Member of the Zootechnics Federation; Metehan Üstündağ, IAAS European Director; and Alperen Öztürk, former President of IAAS World. They shared their assessments on the future of agriculture, the role of young people in the sector, and the importance of international solidarity.

At the end of the program, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's words, "The foundation of the national economy is agriculture," were recalled, emphasizing the importance of production guided by science and sustainable agriculture.

Following the opening ceremony, congress participants had the opportunity to get to know the historical and cultural values ??of Menemen. As part of the organized cultural tour, they visited the Mahkeme Mosque, the Menemen Agios Konstantinos Protestant Church, and the Taşhan Bazaar. Young people from different countries examined the historical fabric and cultural heritage of Menemen firsthand, learning about the region's past, while the tour program also contributed to strengthening cultural interaction among the participants.