Agricultural R&D Center
Agriculture being subject to natural conditions, ecological conditions varying according to countries and even regions and areas, it is important that agricultural research is conducted considering these conditions. It is necessary to test the applicability of agricultural technologies, which are used on a global scale, according to conditions of countries and introduce better technologies by improving these conditions.
Konya Seker’s R&D unit has been conducting research for energy plants, alternative products, irrigation systems and reducing agricultural input for 14 years. Activities of the Agricultural R&D unit are grouped under 4 main titles.
1. Soil Analysis Laboratory
Soil Analysis Laboratory makes soil maps of fields, carries out product pattern activities, enables fertilizer recommendations and fertilizer program to be made, where contractual agriculture is made. Soil maps are made and which products producers can produce with more productivity and high quality in their fields are indicated, as a result of conducted soil analyses.
Soil samples are taken by our Regional Agricultural Directorates from all fields, which are in the hinterland of Konya Seker San. ve Tic. A.Ş. and where contractual agriculture is made, coordinated with GPS devices, and efficiency analyses are made on these samples. When this ongoing research has been completed, it will be possible to access online soil database of fields, which belong to 8 Regional Agricultural Directorates, by using remote sensing sytems and geographical Information systems, and physical and chemical soil infrastructure map will be complete.
Uninterrupted service is provided 12 months per year at the Soil Analysis Laboratory, according to the frequency of samples from Regional Agricultural Directorates. Our laboratory not only analyzes soil samples from Regional Agricultural Directorates but also samples from affiliates of our company in such regions as Amasya and Yenisehir.
In addition to soil analyses, Sugar Beet cyst nematode, which is a major pest for Sugar Beet, are also counted. 112 Nematode counts were made in addition to 12596 soil analyses at our laboratory in 2016.
2. Forestation
Konya Seker is rightly proud of bringing 19 million saplings together with the soil today, at the mission it started with the aim of planting as many saplings as the population of Konya. It planted nine times as many saplings as the population of Konya in 13 years. Konya Seker’s current target is to plant as many trees as the population of Turkey. The Project of forestation of Konya plain began with the Sapling Production Center, established at Cumra Seker Integrated Facilities.
A 1080 decare area with the highest capacity was created in the facilities and forestation activities continue with the 3.1 million saplings, produced per year at this center. 4550 Kilometers of village, town and county highways have been forested in 273 different routes, primarily in the city of Konya, and Altinekin, Beysehir, Cihanbeyli, Cumra, Kulu and Seydisehir. 9400 decare collected forest areas were created in 66 separate areas during this period. 500 Thousand acorns were planted in the forest areas, created by Konya Seker and 465 thousand fruit scions were distributed to farmers. More than 3.1 million saplings are produced at the tree nursery, created at Cumra Şeker Integrated Facilities. The number of trees have exceeded 20 million with the 19 million trees, planted along the highways and forest areas and 3.1 million saplings in the Sapling Production Center.
Konya Seker carries out the forestation activities with 35 agricultural engineers, 450 sapling planting and care workers and 40 street sprinklers in 7 different regions. Continuous care and irrigation are provided for routes, where trees have been planted and collected forest areas and drip irrigation is provided for collected forest areas. Konya Seker checks the trees, which have been planted, regularly and investigates the climate and soil structure in village, town and county routes and forest areas, and plants saplings, which are suitable for that soil structure.
3.Greenhouses, Tissue Culture Laboratory and Aquaculture
Chocolate, biscuit, ethanol, carbondioxide and feed production, along with plant production without soil, mini potato tuber through tissue culture method in fully controlled greenhouses and tilapia fish farming in aquaphonic environment are also carried out Cumra Seker Integrated Facilities, in addition to sugar production.
Tomato cultivation is made without soil in greenhouses, establihed on 60 decare area today. Condensated factory water is used for the heating of the greenhouses. 45-50 Degree condensed factory water, which forms during the sugar production process, is used for the heating of the greenhouses. Both water is saved and cooling expenses are minimized by eliminating cooling expenses, also using the same water for sugar production. 2 Thousand and 400 tons of tomato clusters harvest is planned in greenhouses, where biological control is used for production. Fully controlled production is carried out at the greenhouses, where hormones and chemicals are not used and therefore products with long shelf life and high quality products are produced.
There is a Tissue Culture and an Adaptation Greenhouse for potato mini tuber production at our Cumra Seker Integrated Facilities. In addition to its activities for providing potato seeds, which are free from diseases, Konya Seker also has activities for improving domestic kinds. It harvests 23 million mini tubers per year by also using production method for its activities to provide mini tubers. The study, which will be using this method, will be a first in our country and will also shed light for the future R&D studies. Konya Seker- TUBITAK joint work continues for this system.
Another important work, which is also considered a first in our country, brought into being at our Cumra Seker Integrated Campus, is Aquaculture breeding. Tlapia fish breeding, carried out in 5 thousand square meter area, also has increasing value in Europe. Tilapia fish breeding is performed in controlled environment at the facility, which has a capacity of 200 tons per year.
