Middle East Technical University (METU) regularly organizes and hosts interactive workshops, field visits, and multi-stakeholder conventions for local farmers, regional agricultural cooperatives, and food producers to connect with researchers, exchange practical knowledge, and adopt sustainable agricultural technologies. All hosted events and workshops are provided completely free of charge to all local producers and participants.

1. Key 2025 Events & Workshops for Local Producers

• Pioneer Farmers Workshop (Öncü Çiftçiler Çalıştayı) | October 15, 2025:
  • Location: Mustafakemalpaşa, Bursa (Organized under the METU-GÜNAM led Türkiye–Greece SolarHub Project).
  • Event Focus: Brought together local farmers, public agricultural institutions, academics, and private-sector representatives. Participants visited an agrivoltaic pilot facility, engaging in peer-to-peer knowledge exchange regarding crop selection, energy efficiency, fertilisation, and drip irrigation under agrivoltaic systems.
  • https://arastirma.tarimorman.gov.tr/toprakgubre/Haber/395/Oncu-Ciftciler-Calistayi-Gerceklestirildi

• Nature-Based Solutions & Ponds Workshop (Gölcükler Çalıştayı) | April 8–10, 2025:
  • Co-Hosts: ODTÜ Center for Ecosystem Research (METU-EKOSAM), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, BioArt, and Association for Nature-Based Solutions.
  • Event Focus: A 3-day capacity-building event bringing together 70 agricultural domain experts, local producers, and public authority representatives. Included theoretical training and two days of hands-on field selection and wetland restoration activities (April 9–10) to support sustainable agricultural water management.
  • https://ekosam.metu.edu.tr/en/announcements/ponds-nature-based-solutions-workshop-pond-creation-restoration-and-maintenance

• Ayaş AgriPV Living-Lab Outreach & Demonstration | 2025:
  • Location: Ayaş, Ankara.
  • Event Focus: Established under a tripartite protocol between local farmers, the Ayaş District Directorate of Agriculture, and METU-GÜNAM. The facility serves as an open outdoor testing platform where regional farmers regularly meet with METU researchers to observe dual land-use (agriculture + solar energy) in real field conditions.
  • https://www.odtugunam.org/laboratuvarlar/ayas-tarimges-agripv-tesisi-ankara/