27.05.2025 Proje Evi Cooperative Launched Its First Training on Climate-Resilient and Eco-Friendly Olive Farming in Aydın in Cooperation with Aydın Commodity Exchange

On May 27, 2025, a training session was held at the Aydın Commodity Exchange as part of the “Anatolivar – Empowering Olive Producer Communities in Anatolia” project, supported by the European Union and jointly implemented by Proje Evi Cooperative, the National Olive and Olive Oil Council (UZZK), and Slow Food.

Focusing on eco-friendly olive cultivation in the era of climate crisis, the event brought together academics, experts, producers, and civil society representatives. The morning session began with a presentation by Emine Ceylan Özdemir, Brand, Patent, and Project Officer at the Aydın Commodity Exchange, who introduced the “Sustainability and Green Transition Guide for Olive and Olive Oil Producers.”

Itri Levent Erkol from Proje Evi Cooperative emphasized the importance of preserving biodiversity for climate-resilient olive farming. Prof. Dr. Mesut Kırmacı from ADU’s Faculty of Science discussed the ecological role of maintaining natural vegetation in olive groves, while Prof. Dr. Engin Ertan from the Faculty of Agriculture addressed the impacts of abiotic stress factors on olive production and proposed solutions.

In the afternoon, Anatolivar Project Coordinator Alen Mevlat shared research findings on the state of the olive sector in the context of the climate crisis and the EU Green Deal. Gürsel Tonbul, founder and chairman of Değirmen Eko Yatırım AŞ, discussed the benefits and challenges of organic and climate-compatible olive production.

The final session featured a presentation and workshop by Edwin Clarke, a regenerative agriculture practitioner and consultant. His session, titled “Soil Health for Climate-Resilient Olive Farming,” included a comparative demonstration of how different soil conditions—mulched, vegetated, and bare—affect water retention, erosion, and productivity.

The program concluded with a presentation by Yusuf Küçük, Head of the Aydın Commodity Exchange Olive Oil Tasting Panel. He explained how climate change affects olive oil quality and hosted a tasting session featuring local olive oil varieties from Aydın.

Commenting on the event, Aydın Commodity Exchange Chairman Fevzi Çondur stated:

“The effects of the climate crisis on agricultural production are now undeniable. We believe that trainings like this, which combine academic knowledge with field experience, are extremely valuable. As one of Turkey’s key olive-growing regions, Aydın must lead in adopting sustainable and climate-resilient farming models. Such initiatives are vital for preserving our natural resources and preparing our producers for the future. We thank Proje Evi Cooperative and all partners and participants who contributed to this meaningful event.”