Determine and assess benefits/impacts and trade-offs of agroecology, and identify best practices
I am Bergüzar Eda ERTAŞ from Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, Türkiye.
Topic 1: Determine and assess benefits/impacts and trade-offs of agroecology, and identify best practices.
Our team has developed the following ideas aligned with the call's objectives:
Potential exploitation of medicinal and aromatic plants:
We propose leveraging crops such as Lavandula (lavender) and thyme to distract entomological pests while providing additional income streams for farmers. This aligns with a living lab approach, integrating economic and ecological sustainability. Within this scope, in Türkiye, we plan to plant medicinal and aromatic plants as border crops around garlic fields. At this stage, you may have studies on different crop plants. The reason garlic was chosen by our team is the significant entomological problems (such as onion fly) associated with it. We aim to observe the repellent effects of medicinal and aromatic plants against these factors and to expand the range of crop diversity in the region. At the same time, within the scope of agroecology, we want to create an alternative crop pattern to the garlic plant grown as a monoculture.We want to test this study in 3 different pilot regions where garlic production is widespread in the country (Araban, Narlı and Oğuzeli). For this purpose, different countries may use different product groups and medicinal aromatic plants.
Introduction of diverse crop rotation systems:
Our goal is to enhance soil resilience and sustainability by implementing crop rotations such as Maize–Common Bean and Garlic–Pea systems. In our region, monoculture practices (primarily maize and garlic) deplete soil quality. By introducing these rotations, we aim to analyse their impacts on soil chemical parameters and the microbiome, promoting healthier farming systems. Every country can establish its own rotation system.
Social and economic analysis
To support farmers economically, we propose minimizing intermediaries between growers and markets. Gaziantep Municipality will facilitate the promotion and conduct economic analyses of the proposed applications to ensure practical benefits for farmers.
-free consultancy
-establishment of cooperatives
-establishment of producer associations
To determine the potential phytopathological and entomological effects in areas where these planting systems are implemented.
Pilot areas will be monitored regularly for diseases and pests.
About this topic, if there are other teams you can recommend, we would appreciate it if you could let us know.
Thank you for considering our proposal. I look forward to your response.
The City of Gaziantep is located in the Southeastern Anatolian region of Turkey. The city is a central hub for commerce and trade, the 6th biggest city of Turkey. Gaziantep is a metropolitan city where approximately 2.5 million people reside, consisting of 2 million locals and 500,000 Syrians. Gaziantep has Turkey's seventh largest organized industry. Additionally, according to export statistics which are announced presumably every year, Gaziantep currently holds the title of sixth largest exporter city in Turkey. Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality is a responsible institution for crucial matters such as all the infrastructure and superstructures of the city, biological and urban environmental health, transportation, social assistance and solidarity within the framework of legal responsibilities. Gaziantep has been striving for increasing the well-being of its inhabitants, both natives and migrants/refugees. Gaziantep participated and organized various events; planned and attended to projects including student exchanges with its twinned cities; cooperating with other municipalities through projects or networking, etc. Due to its ongoing efforts for ensuring social inclusion, the right for education for all and its measures for combating climate change and promoting renewable energies, Gaziantep has been awarded several times by prestigious prizes.