What is the "From Ecology to Economy" project of our Association (Astam)? Why was it decided to establish a Rehabilitation Center and Women's Cooperat

ENTRANCE

Turkey is an important biodiversity center of the world due to its climate, soil and geographical features. Turkey's plant richness in biodiversity; It is due to its different geological and topographic features, being surrounded by sea on three sides, steppe, forest, maquis, rocky, saline and microclimate in different regions.

Türkiye; According to the branch of plant geography, the world is divided into Thirty-Seven (37) Flora Areas. Türkiye is the intersection and meeting point of 3 separate Main Flora areas. These Main Flora Centers are: 1. Iran-Turan, 2. Mediterranean and 3. European-Siberian Flora Areas.

The meeting of three separate areas in an area like Turkey, which covers a very small part of the world, puts our country in a very strategic position. As a result of all these ecosystems; Our country has the character of a small continent in terms of biological diversity.

Also; In its historical development, Anatolia was located on migration routes and hosted many civilizations; It has played an important role in increasing plant diversity and richness and enriching genetic resources, and on top of these advantages, becoming the library of health and cultural accumulation of every culture.

It is a known fact that the gene center of many cultivated plants cultivated in the world today is Anatolian lands. Although there are different figures in various sources regarding the number of plant species in our country, Turkey has a richness close to the entire European continent with over 12,000 plant species in its flora. This wealth of ours is better understood when compared to the European continent, which is 15 times larger than Turkey. In addition, the endemism rate of around 30% in our flora (approximately 4,000 species) makes our country an important gene center. Medicinal plants have an important place among the plant genetic resources of our country.

REASONS FOR STARTING THE PROJECT IN THE AEGEAN AND THRACE (BALIKESİR AND ÇANAKKALE)?

Turkey's Aegean and Thrace Regions are the homeland of basic food production and many medicinal and aromatic plant species. This region is in a strategic location that is very suitable for making a great contribution to health and economy with its rich ecological flora.

To achieve the objectives of this project;

• Determining Regional Plant Diversity
• To identify the medicinal and aromatic plant species growing in the region. Researching Usage Areas
• To investigate the health and economic benefits of aromatic plants.
• Developing Sustainability and Conservation Strategies
• To ensure the sustainable use and protection of medicinal aromatic plants.
• Research and training programs will be carried out to raise awareness among the public about strategic foods and medicinal aromatic plants.

Effects of Strategic Food and Medicinal Aromatic Plants in the Region on Health and Economy

• In terms of health effects; Natural healing properties, being a part of alternative medicine, Stress reducing effects
• In terms of economic effects; Its contribution to increasing foreign trade income, providing employment and domestic and international nature and health tourism will be determined.
• Identification of Potential Plants: The plant diversity of the geographical region is investigated and the species will be determined.
• Information Sharing: Information will be shared with farmers and other stakeholders.
• Production Planning: Planting and growing plans of plants determined to be strategic will be made.

FUTURE AND IMPACT OF THE PROJECT

Since the future impacts of this project will be quite large, a socio-economic evaluation will be made of the contributions to the region by encouraging the sustainable use of Food and Medicinal aromatic plants and increasing their economic potential.

Thus; We will be the center of ideas to eliminate the project infertility of political formations in our country, and if necessary, the task of program-based political formation will be carried out by taking risks in this field.

FINANCIAL RESOURCES

Public Institutions: Provide grants and loan support to farmers. Research Institutes: Budget is allocated for medicinal aromatic plant research. International projects will be prepared and presented so that the European Union and other foreign funds provide financial support to the Projects.

• CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS
• Increased Consciousness. Thanks to the project, more people will be made aware of the effects of medicinal aromatic plants on health and economy.
• In the Development of the Regional Economy; By encouraging the sustainable use of medicinal and aromatic plants, their contribution to the regional economy will be determined.
• Cultural Richness: The benefits of medicinal and aromatic plants occupying an important place in the cultural identity of the region in terms of food and health will be explained.

CONTRIBUTION TO THE REGIONAL ECONOMY, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, THE IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN'S COOPERATIVES IN DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL MARKETING The Importance of Women's Cooperatives

• Women's cooperatives support social and economic development by giving women economic independence.
• Cooperatives are jointly controlled businesses that come together to meet the needs of members.

Women's Cooperatives: Women's cooperatives enable women to establish joint businesses and support women's economic and social empowerment. Women's cooperatives provide women with leadership skills and make a sustainable contribution to the local economy. Economic Independence: Women achieve economic independence by establishing their own businesses through cooperatives and contribute to the family economy. Skills Development, Cooperatives provide women with the opportunity to develop their leadership, financial management and marketing skills. Solidarity and Support: Cooperatives strengthen social relations by creating a solidarity and support network among members. The Impact of Women's Cooperatives on Economic Development and Growth Economic Power: Women's cooperatives increase the economic power of their members by increasing their income and contribute to reducing poverty. Community Development: Women's cooperatives encourage local collaborations and support inter-community solidarity and development. Sustainability: Women's cooperatives focus on sustainable business models and environmental responsibility principles. Challenges of Women's Cooperatives

 

For the expansion of women's cooperatives, it is important that community leaders provide supportive policies and resources. The development of cooperatives will be ensured by developing financial support and marketing strategies through training programs.

Financial Challenges: Limited resources and difficulty accessing credit can hinder the growth of women's cooperatives. Marketing and Sales: Cooperatives will be helped to develop effective strategies to market and sell their products, Bureaucracy and Management: Support will be provided in cooperatives, management processes, decision-making and bureaucratic procedures, Participation of Members: Ensuring the participation of all members and actively involving them in cooperative affairs will prevent it from being a difficult process.

• FOOD HEALTH AND SAFE FOOD

Measures taken to protect human health and prevent harmful microorganisms from contaminating food form the basis of food health and food safety.

For this; In order to monitor the compliance of foodstuffs and production processes with the determined quality standards and to include correct information on foods, labeling is required. The strategy of being the leading organization in this project will never be abandoned.

What Will Be Done to Prevent Risks and Threats in Food Safety? Contamination: It is the negativity that occurs as a result of bacteria, viruses or chemicals contaminating food products. To eliminate this risk; Food pollution risk training will be provided. Foodborne Diseases: Infections or poisonings that occur as a result of food consumption. To prevent this, informative training will be provided to the society through cooperatives on relevant issues. For this purpose;

• To Farmers and Producers; Producing fresh and hygienic foods and delivering them from the farm to the wholesaler.
• Distribution and Logistics: Delivering food items to markets or restaurants at the right time and conditions.
• Retail Sales: Offering food products to customers in supermarkets or grocery stores where they are offered for sale.
• Training will be given to present food products to consumers in the correct manner in cooperative stores where they are offered for sale.

What Will Be the Function of Quality Control Laboratories?

• The compliance of food items with quality standards will be checked during the production process and before sale,
• Checking the safety of samples taken from food by testing them in laboratories.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PERSONALIZED FOOD IN PREVENTIVE MEDICINE PROJECTS IN PUBLIC HEALTH

In order to prevent diseases that are specific to the individual and to which he/she may have a genetic predisposition; Healthy and delicious foods will be produced, thus, in addition to a guidance service that provides personalized food services, healthy food will be produced and delivered to the society through women's cooperatives under extraordinary AFAD conditions. For this service, financial support will be provided to the system by carrying out joint projects with the relevant state institutions (under normal circumstances).

What is Personalized Food and What Will Be Done in This Project?

• Each individual's nutritional needs are different. Personalized food offers a nutritional plan that is healthy, delicious and tailored to the individual's needs, depending on his or her genetic characteristics.
• Customized Nutrition Plan: Plans will be made to ensure sustainable simplicity and quality in terms of Diversity, Taste and Balanced Nutrition
• Follow-up and Evaluation; The nutrition plan will be followed regularly and updated when necessary, ensuring the best results for the individual.
• Follow-up, Health development will be observed by monitoring nutritional habits.
• Activity Evaluation: Eating habits and health status are evaluated, the plan will be updated when necessary.
• Support: the individual will be provided with guidance and motivational support to achieve the goal.

What is the Project Implementation and Organization Plan?

• Food, medicinal and aromatic plant production, raw material production, harvesting, storage, drying, extraction, packaging, distribution and logistics, sales organization,
• Opening rehabilitation centers, diagnosis, treatment and care units,
• To carry out healthy elderly care and rehabilitation practices,
• Opening detox and general care service center areas for healthy individuals,
• Leading the role of environmental, air and water health in the transition from ecology to economy
• To start an exemplary and leading application center in Turkey in the role of ecological planning in preventing the disruption of the holistic order of the universe.

 Sami TOPBAŞ
ASTAM Chairman