Izmir Agricultural Technology Center, Silicon Valley of Agriculture
Izmir Agricultural Technology Center, Silicon Valley of Agriculture, is in it Final Phase
Izmir Agricultural Technology Center-Led Project was Signed Between Izmir Commodity Exchange and Izmir Development Agency
Izmir Agricultural Technology Center Project has officially begun.
Izmir Commodity Exchange submits another significant project to Izmir and to our country in the 130th anniversary of its foundation. The Ministry of Industry and Technology's approval was first obtained for the guided project contract submitted to the Izmir Development Agency for the establishment of Izmir Agricultural Technology Center, and then this project was signed between Işınsu Kestelli, the Chairman of the Izmir Commodity Exchange Board and Governor of Izmir Mr. Yavuz Selim Köşger, who is also the Chairman of the Izmir Development Agency Board of Directors. Thus, ITTM (Izmir Agricultural Technology Center) Project, on which the Commodity Exchange has been working meticulously for 3 years, has officially started.
In the general sense, it is possible to define ITTM as a holistic ecosystem that will enable the production of appropriate solutions to the problems experienced in the production processes of agriculture by using digital technologies. ITTM was designed as an open innovation environment where agricultural technologies that have been produced or will be produced can be tested and developed in real life, on real users and products. ITTM will also be the first Living-Lab themed agricultural technologies R&D center of our country. ITTM will bring together technology developers and manufacturers who are users of these technologies, enabling the development of real solutions that are in demand.
ITTM, located in the International Agricultural Research and Training Center Directorate (UTAEM) campus in Menemen, Izmir, affiliated to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, will be established as a joint stock company with an inclusive understanding. In addition, due to its Technology Development Center (TEKMER) status, ITTM will also provide entrepreneurs with many tax advantages provided by technoparks and R&D/design centers.
Speaking at the signing ceremony held at the Izmir Governorate, Governor Yavuz Selim Köşger said, "I hope that our project, which has been prepared with intense effort for almost 3 years, and which we officially started today, following the approval of our Ministry of Industry and Technology, will be beneficial for our Izmir and our country."
Stating that Izmir is one of the locomotive cities of Türkiye and the Aegean Region in the agricultural sector, as in many other fields, Governor Köşger said, “I would like to express that I see the Izmir Agricultural Technology Center Project implemented by Izmir Commodity Exchange, one of the institutions at the center of the sector and one of the opinion leaders, with the support of İZKA, is very meaningful and important for our city. It is certain that this center, which will use technology, which is an indispensable element in all areas of life, to overcome the problems experienced or likely to be experienced in agricultural activities in our province, is a great opportunity for all components of the sector, especially for our farmers, and will offer significant solutions to the sector. In this center where up-to-date agricultural technologies will be used, the tax advantage to be provided to entrepreneurs by the technopark and R&D/design centers is of considerable value.”
Describing ITTM as an exemplary project for the agriculture in Türkiye to proceed with more modern technologies, Governor Köşger continued as follows:
“It should be the common goal of all of us that Izmir to be a leading R&D base in agricultural technologies, opening from the local to the universal, and we must take the necessary steps in this direction. We are in an age where international competition in science, technology, industry and many other fields is at the highest level. We cannot accept just to follow our competitors, no matter what sector they are in. Being on their side, even one step ahead of them, maintaining the best position achieved, is going through projects that will catch up with the era, such as the project that will be realized today. I am sure that within the scope of ITTM, unique opportunities will be provided to new projects, new ideas, more entrepreneurs, all stakeholders and scientists who will meet the needs of the sector. That's why I invite them to be bees within this center that will work and produce like a beehive. With these feelings, I would like to thank especially Izmir Commodity Exchange and İZKA and all those who contributed to the carrying out of the Izmir Agricultural Technology Center Project.”
Indicating that they define ITTM as the "Silicon Valley of Turkish Agriculture", Işınsu Kestelli said, "ITTM will act as a bridge for the development of agricultural technologies, determine the rules as an interface and create a common language among the stakeholders. Our ultimate goal is to transform ITTM into the first Agricultural Technopark of our country in the very near future and to make Izmir a center of attraction for agricultural technologies and initiatives, and an R&D base for agricultural technologies in a regional, national and international context.”
Stating that they see that it is necessary to establish a common language among agricultural R&D stakeholders regarding the solution of the problems in the agricultural sector in their project analysis studies, Kestelli stated: “One of the most important functions of ITTM will be to ensure this cooperation. Researchers, entrepreneurs and technology companies in many disciplines, who were not interested in the agricultural sector in the past, started to work in the field of agricultural technologies today due to the increasing importance of agriculture and its great potential. Although these entrepreneurs, who have been out of the sector until now, are competent in the field of technology development, they need cooperation and support on the problems of agriculture. This cooperation will be ensured with the ecosystem to be created by ITTM, and new entrepreneurs working in this field and experienced stakeholders will be able to take part in joint projects together. On this occasion, we invite all entrepreneurs, entrepreneur candidates, agricultural machinery manufacturers, academicians and researchers who have projects and business ideas for the development of the agricultural sector in our country, and investment funds that want to invest in this field, to take part in the ITTM ecosystem.
Stating that they believe that ITTM will soon become a new success story that emerged from the Izmir Commodity Exchange, such as the Futures Exchange, ELİDAŞ and İZLADAŞ, Kestelli said: “All our stakeholders had very positive support and ideas in the design and finalization of the project.
· On this occasion, I would like to thank our Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank for their support in the development of our project in terms of content and in the process, and the Ministry units
· to our Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Bekir Pakdemirli, who is our project partner and enables ITTM to be established in the UTAEM campus affiliated to the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies, which has the most important agricultural R&D network and infrastructure in our country, to our bureaucrats and technocrat friends in all units of the Ministry with whom we work in harmony as a team,
· to our esteemed Governor Yavuz Selim Köşger, to the Board of Directors of our Izmir Development Agency, and to the very valuable employees of our Agency, for their guiding approach and cooperation at ITTM
· to the professional chambers of our province who are our guided project partners and who always show their support in the ITTM Project, which is an important output of the unity of power in Izmir, and to my very dear President friends, Yasar University and Izmir Institute of Technology, Ege University for cooperation and to all our stakeholders those who contributed to our project. Of course, my biggest thank is to our member companies, members of the Assembly, Members of the Board of Directors, and colleagues who have enabled our Exchange to implement ITTM and all its visionary projects and our technical team, namely the Izmir Commodity Exchange family, which I am honored to be the chairman of.
28.12.2021
