PANFEST 2024: A Milestone for Sustainable Agriculture in Kayseri, Turkey
Kayseri, Turkey – From September 16th to 18th, Kayseri Şeker hosted PANFEST 2024, a key event in the Turkish agricultural calendar, spotlighting sustainable sugar beet cultivation. The festival attracted over 52 exhibiting companies, agricultural experts, farmers, and industry leaders, all gathering to exchange ideas on the latest agricultural trends and technologies.
Event Overview: Celebrating Sustainable Practices
PANFEST 2024 featured a blend of panels, presentations, workshops, and technology exhibitions, making it an invaluable platform for knowledge-sharing and practical learning. Key themes for the event included:
- Water Resource Management
- Biotechnology in Agriculture
- Plant Breeding for Sustainability
The first day was dedicated to insightful discussions on sustainable agriculture and innovative practices that help improve crop yields while conserving valuable resources.
Panel Highlights: Experts Discuss Sustainable Practices
The opening day featured several panels, including:
- “Sustainability in Sugar Beet Agriculture” moderated by Irfan Donat, an agricultural journalist. The panelists included:
- Hüseyin Akay, Chairman of the Kayseri Sugar Beet Growers Cooperative
- Pınar Parmaksız, General Manager of Netafim Turkey and Central Asia
- Prof. Dr. Ali Ünlükara, Irrigation Specialist at Erciyes University
During this session, experts discussed modern technologies that help reduce water consumption and improve agricultural yields in sugar beet farming.
Another important panel was moderated by Cem Seymen, a renowned TV journalist, with the topic “Plant Breeding and Biotechnology in Sustainable Sugar Beet Agriculture”. The panel featured international experts, such as:
- Christina Welhausen from KWS
- Dr. Muzaffer Adıyaman from SesVanderHave Turkey
This discussion emphasized the need for developing new sugar beet varieties that are resistant to climate change and extreme weather conditions.
Field Day: Hands-On Learning for Farmers
On Days 2 and 3, PANFEST shifted to Field Day events, offering farmers the chance to:
- Engage directly with exhibiting companies
- Experience live demonstrations of advanced agricultural technologies, machinery, and innovative cultivation techniques for sugar beet farming.
Farmers could explore modern farming solutions and gain practical knowledge on efficiency and sustainability in crop management.
MRB Biotechnology: Showcasing Sustainable Solutions
MRB Biotechnology, a leading innovator in root biostimulants, was proud to be part of PANFEST 2024. The company showcased its MRB Mix Plus and MRB Organic products, which are designed to support healthy crop growth and improve soil fertility.
Special focus was placed on sugar beet cultivation, where MRB’s solutions offer distinct advantages, such as:
- Improved nutrient absorption
- Enhanced resistance to environmental stress (such as drought and heat)
This hands-on participation allowed MRB Biotechnology to connect with industry professionals and farmers, discussing how their biotechnology solutions can contribute to sustainable farming practices in the region.
Conclusion: A Forward-Looking Event for the Future of Agriculture
PANFEST 2024 was a pivotal event for the Turkish agricultural sector, bringing together leaders and innovators from across the industry to discuss sustainability and technological advancements in farming. The event also highlighted the growing role of biotechnology and biostimulants in achieving more sustainable farming practices, as evidenced by MRB Biotechnology’s presence and contributions.
