Universities Continue to Add Value to the Country and Their Regions
March 31, 2025
Higher education institutions make many economic, social and cultural
contributions to our country and their regions and play a major role in the
development of their regions, especially in areas such as health,
agriculture and technology.
Ardahan University realizes the planting and harvesting of the 13 thousand
years old ancestral seed of the region called "kavılca wheat" in the field
of agriculture. The flour obtained from the wheat planted on 100 decares of
land within the campus is processed into products by the academics of the
university's gastronomy and culinary arts department.
In addition, in order to obtain added value from the wheat, studies are
carried out in the facility established for products such as pasta, noodles
and bulgur. Since 2021, the university has provided training and support to
nearly 600 producers on the cultivation of kavılca wheat.
Erol Özvar, President of the Council of Higher Education, said that
universities should undertake the task of being the locomotive of regional
development, and that the projects carried out at Ardahan University for
the development of the region is valuable. He also emphasized that they
care about the projects and productivity of universities on the issues that
society needs.
Ardahan University Rector Prof. Mehmet Biber said that dangers such as the
decrease in natural resources, the increase in the world population,
climate change and genetic changes in food threaten agricultural areas,
agricultural production and food security. He stated that as a university,
they have taken it as a duty to protect the ancestral heirloom, kavılca
wheat.
Prof. Mehmet Arslan, one of the implementers of the Kavılca Wheat
Cultivation Project, said: “With our R&D studies, we aim to provide
added value to wheat suitable for regional climatic conditions. A facility
was established within our university for products such as pasta, noodles
and bulgur.”
Stating that they aim for the continuity and sustainability of production,
protection and increase of the added value of kavılca wheat, Arslan noted
that they continue their efforts to protect the basin and increase the
market share with good agricultural practices.
Ardahan University Food Business Department Faculty Member Dr. Akif Göktuğ
emphasized that kavılca wheat, which has a low carbohydrate rate and high
protein value, is also considered to be of great importance for health.