EU-Supported 'Future in Agriculture' Project Starts in Bolu to Engage Youth in Farming

Led by the Bolu Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, a critical project has been launched to accelerate the integration of the young population into the agricultural sector and to ensure sustainable development in rural areas. Supported by funding from the European Union Erasmus+ Program and carried out with the contributions of the Turkey National Agency, the “Future in Agriculture, Future with Youth” project is being conducted in partnership with the Bolu Governorship and Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University (BAİBÜ) Faculty of Agriculture. This initiative aims to ensure that young people play an active role not only in agricultural production but also in decision-making mechanisms. The project's fundamental vision is determined as integrating climate-friendly and innovative production models into the region's development process while strengthening the new generation's voice in the agricultural sector.

Within the scope of the project, numerous educational activities and meetings will be organized to increase the sectoral awareness of young people. Within the planned programs, an “Awareness Seminar” and a “Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture Seminar” will be held, targeting participant groups of 20 people each. Following these seminars, a Youth Forum titled “The Future of Youth in Agriculture,” which is the most comprehensive part of the project and will see the participation of 50 young people, will be held. The events are designed to enable young people to gain information about current opportunities in agriculture and to participate in discussions regarding the future of the sector.

To convert theoretical knowledge into practical skills in the field, the project's educational curriculum spans a very wide range. Participants will receive training on critical topics ranging from agricultural entrepreneurship to marketing strategies, from food processing techniques to carbon footprint measurement. According to the program, three separate technical training modules, each lasting 6 days and involving mobility, will be implemented. These modules focus on organic agricultural practices, water management and ecosystem protection, and food security. Additionally, detailed applications regarding apiculture, which is part of modern agriculture, and sustainable food production processes will be carried out.

In addition to the educational goals of the project, concrete institutional steps are also planned to be taken to strengthen the agricultural infrastructure in the region. In this context, a ‘Youth Agriculture Council’ structure will be established where young people who wish to contribute to the rural development process can discuss and develop their innovative ideas on a platform. This council will function as a mechanism to ensure the direct participation of young people in agricultural policies and local development projects. Thus, it is aimed to transform the experiences of young people in the field into strategic recommendations for the future of the agricultural sector.

As one of the most permanent and strategic outputs of the project, it is envisaged to establish a central structure to coordinate all agricultural activities in the region. For this purpose, the physical and administrative infrastructure work for the establishment of the ‘Bolu Youth Agriculture Training Center’, where trainings and sectoral studies for young people in the region will be gathered under a single roof, has commenced. This center has the vision of serving as a base and information sharing point for young farmers in and around Bolu in the long term, not just during the project period. By ensuring standardization in agricultural training, the center will contribute to the sustainable use of the region's agricultural potential by future generations.