Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Agriculture and Livestock Standardization and Certification Application and Research Center organized the “Workshop on Determining Standards in Beekeeping”.
The workshop held at the Rectorate Senate Hall was attended by Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dalgar, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Hakan Öner, President of the Turkish Beekeepers Central Union Ziya Şahin, Project Manager of the Diagnosis of Some Common Viral and Parasitic Diseases in Honey Bees and Developing and Implementing Programs to Combat These Diseases to Prevent Honey Bee Deaths and Increase Hygienic Honey Bee Products Prof. Dr. Yakup Yıldırım, Dr. Lecturer Habibe Yaman from the Agriculture and Livestock Standardization and Certification Application and Research Center, relevant academicians, and producers.
In his opening speech, Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dalgar emphasized that they are conducting many projects in the field of livestock and said: “Our university is a specialized university in the field of livestock as a state policy, supported within the scope of the regional development universities program. We are conducting numerous projects in almost all categories. One of these projects is the beekeeping project. How can we contribute academically to the beekeeping sector as a university? We are in the effort of what we can do not only in Burdur but also nationwide and even universally. In summary, I can say that within the framework of this mission and duty assigned to us by the state, we are a university that is concerned about the sector, worries about it, and is in an effort. We advocate that universities produce social benefits and contributions in addition to classical education and scientific research studies. The sectors you have chosen in this context are working to demonstrate this social contribution. In our scope, we have a study to define the standards of the livestock sector in the categories of the Turkish Accreditation Agency (TÜRKAK) scientifically but ideally, applicable, and in line with market realities, and then turn them into an accredited certification program. We have completed this for dairy cattle enterprises, which we call dairy producers, and we have been accredited by TÜRKAK as the program owner. Now we have also held meetings in Ankara to expand this further and move it to different areas. We continue our work. What is important in accreditation? When anyone in Turkey wants to do a certification, they have to get authorization from Mehmet Akif Ersoy University. We see this as an important achievement as a university. I would like to express that we are always ready to work together in the field of beekeeping. I wish our workshop to be productive and thank you for your participation.”
President of the Turkish Beekeepers Central Union Ziya Şahin emphasized that they are striving to take the work they do as a union one step further every day and said, “We are working, we are striving, and we deserve this. We are in 2nd place in the world in honey production. We are also at the top in endemic plants. Therefore, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Beekeepers Union in 2023, let me say this; we see very different studies on beekeeping and honey production. When we look at it, 20% of the world's biological richness is in our country, we host 7 breeds. We have completed the work on pine honey, which is our only export item in our honeys.” He gave detailed information about the work they do as a union.
Project Manager of the Diagnosis of Some Common Viral and Parasitic Diseases in Honey Bees and Developing and Implementing Programs to Combat These Diseases to Prevent Honey Bee Deaths and Increase Hygienic Honey Bee Products Prof. Dr. Yakup Yıldırım gave information about the project details.
Dr. Lecturer Habibe Yaman from the Agriculture and Livestock Standardization and Certification Application and Research Center informed the participants about the center's work.
After the speeches, the workshop began. In the first session of the workshop, 'Production Area, Material, Hygiene, and Safety Criteria of Beekeeping' were discussed, while in the second session, 'Management, Nutrition, Honey Collection, Health, and Product Criteria' were emphasized.
