At our university, the 180th anniversary of the beginning of agricultural education in Turkey was celebrated with a meaningful program hosted by our Faculty of Agriculture as part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of our university. The event, held on January 12, 2026, at the Ahi Evran Conference Hall of the Faculty of Science and Letters, brought together representatives from academia, the public sector, and industry.

The program was attended by Prof. Dr. Aykut Gül, Member of the Turkish Presidency's Agricultural and Food Policy Council; Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil, Rector of our University; Kırşehir Deputy Governor Alper Balcı, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Şimşek, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture Prof. Dr. Selahattin Çınar, Kırşehir Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Bülent Zafer Taş, Kırşehir Chamber of Agriculture President Mevlüt Toprak, along with academic and administrative staff and students.

The opening speech of the program was delivered by Prof. Dr. Selahattin Çınar, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, who stated that agriculture today cannot be considered merely a production activity; it has also become a strategic element of national security. Drawing attention to the importance of quality, application, and adaptation to social needs in agricultural education rather than quantity, Çınar emphasized that global issues such as climate change, declining water resources, and food security have imposed new responsibilities on agricultural education. He stated that an educational approach centered on sustainability and the protection of natural resources is now imperative.

Following the opening speech, Mevlüt Toprak, President of the Kırşehir Chamber of Agriculture, stated that agricultural production is not merely an economic activity, but a strategic field directly related to a country's future and independence. Stating that sustainability in agriculture is possible through knowledge-based planning and university-field collaboration, Toprak said that they aim to create a lasting culture of collaboration that brings producers and academia together, and invited young people to see agriculture as the profession of the future.

Speaking later, Kırşehir Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Bülent Zafer Taş stated that the 180-year history of agricultural education represents an important historical process where knowledge meets the soil. Emphasizing that global issues such as climate change, water scarcity, and food security have further increased the importance of agricultural knowledge and planning, Taş stated that Turkey's agricultural production power is built on the joint efforts of agricultural engineers, academics, and producers. He added that agricultural faculties are strategic think tanks that shape the future of agriculture.

Speaking at the program, our University Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil stated that agriculture is not merely a field of production; it is an area shaped by humanity's relationship with nature and forms the foundation of civilizations. Karahocagil noted that climate change, limited water resources, epidemics, and geopolitical developments have once again highlighted the strategic importance of agriculture, emphasizing that agriculture has become an integral part of national security today. He added that our Faculty of Agriculture is a center that guides the region's agricultural development and generates knowledge and strategy.

Following the opening speeches, Prof. Dr. Aykut Gül, who participated in the program as a guest speaker, stated in his presentation titled “Food Security and an Organized Future in Agriculture” that food has been one of the most fundamental factors determining the fate of states and societies throughout history. Gül noted that food security today ranks as high a priority as energy and defense, and often even higher, emphasizing that Turkey is a major player on a regional and global scale thanks to its food production capacity and logistical strength. He also pointed out that agriculture has become a tool of “agricultural diplomacy.”

The program continued with Kırşehir Deputy Governor Alper Balcı presenting a gift to Prof. Dr. Aykut Gül. During the event, certificates of appreciation were given to the academics who contributed to the music recital performed by the academics of the Neşet Ertaş Faculty of Fine Arts.

In the latter part of the event, certificates of appointment will be presented to academics who have undergone a title change in 2025 and have recently joined our university; certificates of appreciation were given to faculty members who contributed to the academic success of our faculty by receiving the most Web of Science citations in the same year, publishing Web of Science Q1 and Q2 articles, and having projects funded by external sources accepted as project leaders. Certificates of appreciation were also presented to students whose projects were accepted under the TÜBİTAK 2209 Student Projects program in 2025, along with their academic advisors.

The awards were presented to our students who ranked in the student essay contest titled “The Key to Food Safety and a Sustainable Future: Agricultural Engineering,” sponsored by Memişoğulları Group.

After the group photo, the event came to an end.

Following the program, Prof. Dr. Aykut Gül visited Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil, Rector of our University, at his office. The visit, which took place at the Rector's office, was also attended by the vice-rectors, the general secretary, and the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture. During the cordial meeting, assessments were made regarding agricultural studies in our country and at universities.