R&D Hub Established for Soilless Agriculture in Erzincan

September 28, 2026 · Tarım TV

Erzincan Horticultural Research Institute aims to provide scientific production recipes for regional greenhouse farming through soilless agriculture trials initiated in its modern R&D greenhouse, established with TAGEM support.

Soilless agriculture studies, set to add vision to regional agriculture, have been launched with the new research and development infrastructure established within the Erzincan Horticultural Research Institute. This facility, implemented to adapt to changing global climate conditions and protect agricultural water resources, aims to elevate regional greenhouse farming activities to modern standards. Designed as a hub for testing innovative and scientific agricultural models for local producers, this well-equipped center has been established on the institute's grounds.

A portion of the existing R&D greenhouse has been adapted for soilless agriculture applications with the financial and technical support provided by the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Erzincan Horticultural Research Institute Director Samet Karataş made the following statements regarding the infrastructure transformation and the project's commencement:

The initial trial activities within the institute commenced with tomato cultivation. In the study, which will include different vegetable types in the coming production seasons, the vegetative development of plants in soilless environments, the effects of different growing substrates on productivity, and the most suitable fertilization regimes will be monitored with scientific parameters. Researchers are working on new formulations aimed at obtaining the highest quality product per unit area by optimizing plant nutrition management.

The new generation soilless agriculture system ensures that the macro and micro nutrients and irrigation water required by the plants are delivered with precision sensors and automation. The ability to keep the growing environment's climate and nutrition completely under control minimizes external stress factors. This controlled structure allows researchers to compare different cultivation models and reveal data that demonstrates water savings compared to traditional production.

It has been announced that the R&D activities carried out within the institute will cover a total trial period of 3 years. The scientific outputs and optimum cultivation recipes obtained during this period will be directly transferred to greenhouse farmers and agricultural enterprises in the region. With the sharing of trial results, it is aimed to disseminate practical solutions to the field that reduce producers' input costs and offer alternative growing media in soilless agriculture.

Emphasizing that soilless agriculture plays a key role in protecting water resources, Erzincan Horticultural Research Institute Director Samet Karataş explained their scientific goals with the following words:

Through this approach, it is planned to expand modern agricultural practices in the microclimate areas of Eastern Anatolia.

Institute Director Samet Karataş stated that the infrastructure will lay the groundwork for new academic research and sectoral collaborations, summarizing the project's future vision with the following statements:

Türkçe