Two new authorities from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to MAKÜ

Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University (MAKÜ) has been authorized in two separate areas for the technical evaluation of agricultural technologies and the certification of agricultural production within the scope of Good Agricultural Practices.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's General Directorate of Agricultural Reform has granted the university's Faculty of Science and Letters Department of Precision Agriculture and Robotics a “Test Authorization Certificate for Agricultural Machinery and/or Agricultural Technology Tools.”

The General Directorate of Plant Production has authorized the Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Technology Transfer Office Joint Stock Company as a “Good Agricultural Practices Control and Certification Organization” in the fields of plant and animal production.

Within the scope of the test authorization, the relevant department will be able to conduct tests on agricultural machinery and agricultural technology tools in the authorized vehicle groups. The document, which has a validity period until September 28, 2031, has been prepared within the framework of the relevant regulation.

In these tests, the technical specifications and operational values of the vehicles are determined, and their compliance with agricultural techniques is evaluated. The test reports prepared at the end of the processes carried out according to the specified methods ensure that the suitability of the machines and systems is demonstrated with technical data. Thus, it responds to the evaluation needs of manufacturers and importers regarding their products.

The existing research and application infrastructure of the department offers opportunities for design, prototype development, mechanical testing, electronic measurement, and sensor applications. Students and researchers can also benefit from this infrastructure in studies aimed at testing the developed systems under production conditions. The new test authorization creates an area where this accumulation can be used for the technical evaluation needs of the sector.

The control and certification authority granted to the Technology Transfer Office Joint Stock Company covers the period from September 22, 2026, to September 21, 2028. The company will be able to check the compliance of plant and animal production activities within the scope of the authorization with the rules of Good Agricultural Practices and carry out the certification processes for products that meet the necessary conditions.

Good Agricultural Practices are based on carrying out production with regard to human and animal health, animal welfare, and the environment. The conservation of natural resources, the recording of production processes, and the traceability of the product are among the fundamental elements of this approach. The control and certification system also ensures the evaluation of compliance with the established rules in production and the certification of suitable products.

In this respect, authorization is important for producers and producer organizations to present their products to the market through a certified production process. The presence of an authorized organization in this field in Burdur creates an opportunity that can facilitate access to control and certification services for businesses in the region.

MAKÜ, which carries out specialization studies in the field of animal husbandry with the goal of regional development, develops projects that bring together its research accumulation with the needs of producers. The university's work in feed technologies, smart farming systems, and rural development are also among the application areas of this approach.

The new authorities support the university's specialization mission with aspects of evaluating agricultural technologies and certifying production processes. The services that can be offered in these two areas may contribute to the use of scientific knowledge in production and the development of cooperation between the university, producers, and industry.