A cooperation protocol was signed between the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD) and Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMÜ) in the field of "Industrial Agricultural Plants", primarily hemp cultivation.
The signing ceremony held at the Samsun Metropolitan Municipality Ömer Halisdemir Multi-Purpose Hall was attended by MÜSİAD President Abdurrahman Kaan, Samsun Governor Osman Kaymak, former Minister of Health and Samsun Deputy Ahmet Demircan, Ondokuz Mayıs University Rector Prof. Dr. Sait Bilgiç, MÜSİAD Samsun Branch President Haluk Tan, directors of public institutions and organizations, representatives of civil society organizations, academics and students.
Academia and the Business World Must Combine Their Accumulated Knowledge and Experience
Taking the floor at the signing ceremony, MÜSİAD President Abdurrahman Kaan stated that the accumulated knowledge and experience of academia and the business world must be combined to create a force, and said: "Just as we support our country's growth through production, we are taking steps in this direction. We take care to ensure that all the work we carry out is sustainable. One of these is the issue of hemp production, which came onto the agenda through the initiatives of our President. The business world and industry welcomed this issue with enthusiasm. Hemp is a plant of high economic value used in many industrial products. The presence of the hemp plant in Anatolia dates back centuries. The variety found in Anatolia stands out with its quality and high yield compared with other varieties. Once our university produces industrial hemp seed, we will also hold in our hands the production of an important raw material for industry. A fine step has been taken to ensure that all these processes continue in a controlled manner. We have launched the work to establish the Turkish Hemp Research Institute. It makes us happy that the work on domestic and national hemp production is being carried out in Samsun. This cooperation that we will undertake with our university for the cultivation and development of industrial plants is gaining even greater importance."
“University and Industry Are Rapidly Drawing Closer to One Another”
Touching on the importance of university-industry cooperation, OMÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Sait Bilgiç said: “One of the most important characteristics of developed countries is that they have firmly established university-industry cooperation and that they actively implement it. On one side there are well-trained, high-level minds whose task is to conduct research; on the other side there is an entrepreneurial spirit that has developed with its production-oriented qualities and possesses certain budgetary means. Not bringing these two together was a great shortcoming. We have recognized this for a long time now, and in order to close this gap both sides are rapidly drawing closer to one another. In this sense, I hope that the signature we will put in place today with MÜSİAD will lead to fine results.”
“Everyone Has Gone After This Product”
Samsun Governor Osman Kaymak, emphasizing that very important developments regarding hemp have taken place in Samsun, said: "After the issue of hemp seed came onto the agenda, everyone has gone after this product. So that this product is not mixed with products coming from outside, we recommended to our farmers that the product not be sold outside except through the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry. We sign contracts with our farmers and purchase the products that will be produced. At present, another 450 decares have been sown. We will obtain 15 tons of seed. Next year, production will be carried out on 5,000 decares. Within 23 years, the seeds will be propagated in a regular and controlled manner." Following the speeches, the cooperation protocol was signed by MÜSİAD President Abdurrahman Kaan, Samsun Governor Osman Kaymak and OMÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Sait Bilgiç.