Container-Type Agricultural Facility

Products grown in a container-type mini plant factory launched by investor Elif Çakıroğlu in Yomra district, Trabzon, will be exported worldwide. Approximately 20 plant varieties grown soillessly in plant cultivation cabinets are monitored in a computer environment and then harvested. In the plant cabinets, products such as parsley, stevia, basil, beans, lettuce, squash and cucumber are brought to consumer-ready condition in 25 days without human contact using a system.

Stating that they have been working in the soilless agriculture field for approximately two years, Çakıroğlu said: "We have been conducting our work within the scope of R&D for two years. In our plant factory, we want to grow seedlings and saplings through plant tissue culture. For two years we have been working with our team on how to grow them. We have two production sections and our production section consists of two cabinets. In this production section we have tested approximately 20 nutrients. These are approximately 20 as plants, but we can multiply them. Within two years it became 20, there could be more. Because when we give the plant the pattern it wants inside the cabinets, that is, when we provide its light and nutrients, the plant grows. When you provide its conditions and environment, the plant grows. Stevia, also known as sugar cane. The world is leaving harmful glucose and switching to beneficial glucose. Here it appears as stevia. While stevia is used in the world, now it needs to be used in our country and its infrastructure needs to be built. Hopefully we will also have a share in this." he said. Noting that their aim is to export what is produced, Çakıroğlu said: "We are thinking of a factory, in this factory we want to have plant tissue culture and our laboratories. In these laboratories we want to grow ornamental plants, for example we import orchids from abroad. Our aim is to produce these to cover our import gap. Hopefully we will achieve this goal" he said.

No Harm to Health

Agricultural Engineer Seldanur Hacı Abdullahoğlu also noted that the plants grown have no harmful effects on human health: "The germination phase of our plants takes place in 3 days. After three days we transfer it to our system and after 25 days we carry out the harvest. There is no harm to human health whatsoever. Because since there is no weed control and we do not use harmful pesticides, after germination we close the system door and only enter it at harvest. This is why we produce basil without human contact. Light, watering and temperature are entirely controlled by an automation system. By adjusting the temperature, humidity and light from the computer environment, we get our first harvest in 25 days. The products we have are very suitable data for commerce. Now with the deterioration of climates, reduction of water, high temperatures, disproportionate rainfall and sunshine, the world is gradually accelerating the transition to soilless agriculture. Hopefully as Turkey we will catch up with the level of other countries." she stated.   Source