14/08/2026
The “Future Leading Farmers Training and Certification Program,” implemented in collaboration with Sabancı University and Türkiye İş Bankası, will begin on Monday, August 17th. Seventeen young farmer candidates, selected from various universities and departments across Türkiye, will gain knowledge and experience in a wide range of areas, from the future of agriculture to entrepreneurship, new technologies to financial literacy, through training, workshops, and practical applications held over five days on Sabancı University's Tuzla Campus and at İş Kuleleri.
The program, created to contribute to the sustainable future of agriculture in Türkiye, support young farmers in adapting to changing production conditions, and contribute to the development of new generation competencies in the agricultural field, will combine academic knowledge with sector experience. Led by Sabancı University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Professor Dr. Levent Öztürk and Sabancı Business School Professor Dr. Zafer Yenal, the program will provide participants with the opportunity to examine agricultural production from different perspectives.
Different Dimensions of Agriculture to be Discussed Over Five Days
The first four days of the program, which will take place between August 17-21, will be held on Sabancı University Tuzla Campus. On the last day of the program, Friday, August 21, participants will gather at İş Kuleleri.
As part of the program, on Monday, August 17, sessions will be held under the title "The Future of Agriculture, Risks and New Value Areas" including "Agriculture Today: Risks, Opportunities, Youth", "The Political Economy of Agriculture", "New Technologies in Agriculture", "New Ways to Create Value in Agriculture" and "Business Model Canvas 101: Start Drawing Your Map".
On Tuesday, August 18th, under the theme of "Entrepreneurship, Product Development and Added Value," sessions and workshops will be held on the following topics: "The Intersection of Gastronomy and Agriculture," "Value Proposition and Brand Value," "Product Stories, Sensory Analysis and Tasting Workshop," "Examples of Successful Added Value and Entrepreneurship in Türkiye," "Examples from Europe," and "Value-Added Scenario and Storytelling for a Local Product."
On Wednesday, August 19th, under the theme of "Circular Economy and Upcycling Workshops," the following topics will be covered: "Circular Economy: How Waste in Agriculture is Transformed into a Product?", "Upcycling and New Material Ideas," "Aromatic Plants, Scent Profiles and Product Design," "Natural Dyes and Plant-Based Colors," "Business Ideas for Agricultural Waste Valorization," and "Updating the Business Model Canvas."
On Thursday, August 20th, under the theme of "Finance, Cooperativism and Digital Marketing," sessions will be held on "Fundamentals of Agricultural Finance and Financial Resilience," "Investment and Income Planning," "Next Generation Cooperative Models," "Digital Tools and Visibility," "Rapid Digital Marketing," and "Strategy Design and Canvas Update for Young Producers."
Young Farmers to Present Their Projects at İş Kuleleri
The final day of the program, Friday, August 21st, will be held at İş Kuleleri under the theme of "Supply Chain, Young Producer Roadmap & Project Presentations." Following the topics of "Crisis Management Simulation" and "Supply Chain: From Field to Table," young farmers will present their mini-projects, prepared within the scope of the Business Model Canvas they worked on throughout the program, to the jury.
At the end of the five-day program, the program outputs will be discussed in the evaluation, and presentations of the outstanding projects will also be given.
