Mehdi Rahimi was born in Shiraz, Iran, in 1978. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran. His research interests are in the areas of plant breeding (classical breeding, biometry, abiotic stress, molecular breeding, genomics, gene expression). He received his Ph.D. in plant breeding at Tarbiat Modares University during 2008-2013 and M.Sc. in plant breeding at University of Guilan during 2004-2007 and his B.Sc. in agronomy and plant breeding from Shiraz University.

Cukurova University, Faculty of Agriculture, Adana, Türkiye

I was born as a farmer son in a big village in Trakya Region which is in the European part of Turkey. In 1987, I graduated from Faculty of Agriculture in Bursa, Turkey I started to work in the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture in 1990, at the extension service of Aksaray Province in Middle Anatolia as Specialist in field crops. During my stay in the National Agricultural Extension service, in a Research Project funded by World Bank (1990-1994), I was a responsible person for the managing, planning and programming of province extension plans as well conducting many demos and field trials in farmer conditions. I also participated in many courses related to production techniques of field crops. After my appointment to Trakya Agricultural Research Institute-Edirne in 1994, I started to work in National Sunflower Project (1994-1998). I did M Sc in University of Nebraska - Lincoln US in 1996-1998, and later on Ph D in Trakya University in 1999-2001 on sunflower breeding. In December 1998, I became National Sunflower Project Leader and National Sunflower Research Coordinator. I have worked also as Technical Director, Administrative Director and head of Breeding and Genetic Department in Trakya Agricultural Research Institute between 2001 and 2013. I was responsible for conducting experiments, improving and developing new inbred lines and cultivars; sunflower hybrid breeding; developing lines ressistant to sunflower pests and diseases, as well Orobanche. In addition, I started several national oil crops projects. As deputy director of that institute, I was managing research projects, training researchers and technical personnel, and organizing meetings. I did Post Doctorate on sunflower molecular Breeding in USDA Sunflower Research Unit at Fargo, ND in US in 2004. I became Associated Professor on industrial crops in June 2011.

I developed many sunflower inbred lines and hybrids registered then sold in Turkey and other countries as research leader in National Sunflower Program during the instiute.

After leaving from Trakya Agricultural Research Institute, in December 2013, I started to work in Trakya University as Associated Professor. In April 2014, I became director of Plant Breeding Research Center in Trakya University. In July 2014, I was appointed as Head of Genetic and Bioengineering Department, Engineering Faculty, Trakya University. Since November 2016, I am Full Professor in the Genetic and Bioengineering Department.

I am founder and partner of also a research company Trakya Genetics R&D Co. in Takya University Technopark as authorized private research company on field and vegetable crops conducting breeding programs on oil and confectionery sunflower, corn, rice, wheat, barley, confectionery pumpkin, and some other crops and also other research studies on plant genetics and genetic engineering. We have developed and continue to develop new cultivars in different crops and then give the seed companies to produce in Turkey and other countries.

At National level, I was founder and former President of Turkish Plant Breeders Association. I have been associated editor of some agricultural journals. I have been taking part in evaluation of scientific projects and Research Meetings. I am also Board Member of Turkish Seed Union. In May 2014, I became President of Turkish Plant Breeders Sub Union.

At International level, I am former President of International Sunflower Association (http://www.isa.cetiom.fr) situated in Paris, France, the president of Balkan Seed Association, President of International Researcher Association and board member of Black Sea Biotechnology Association (www.bsba.ag/) in Sofia, Bulgaria. I am president of Balkan Seed Association and International Researchers Association and I am also the research coordinator of FAO Sunflower Network since 2010 to present. I organized many plant breeding, statistical analysis and experimental designs courses, as well as over thirty International conferences and symposiums. I am invited speakers of over forty national and international meetings. I have served in scientific committee of many international symposiums and conferences until today. I am serving also on editorial boards of some scientific journals. I have published more than 380 papers in scientific journals, as well having book chapters in several books, etc. In 2014, I was awarded Doctorate of Honoris Causa from the University of Moldova's Academy of Sciences. In 2022, I was awarded the Pustovoit Prize, given every four years by the World Sunflower Association and considered as the Nobel Prize for sunflowers. In 2022, I was awarded the Science Award by the Turkish Chamber of Agricultural Engineers for contributing to the national and international scientific community. In 2024, I was awarded the Public University-Industry Cooperation Award by Trakya University for his contributions to university-industry cooperation. He is a member and actively involved in numerous national and international associations.

Born in Bursa in 1972, he completed his primary, secondary, and high school education in Bursa. In 1990, he was admitted to the Field Crops Department of the Faculty of Agriculture at Bursa Uludağ University. He completed his undergraduate studies in 1995 and began his master's studies in the Field Crops Department of the Institute of Science at Bursa Uludağ University. In 1996, he was appointed as a research assistant in the same department. He completed his master's degree in 1998 and began his doctoral studies in the same year at the Field Crops Department of the Institute of Science at Bursa Uludağ University. He completed his doctorate in 2004; he received the title of Associate Professor in 2010 and Professor in 2015. He currently serves as a faculty member in the Field Crops Department of the Faculty of Agriculture at Bursa Uludağ University. He is married and has three children.

1986 Bachelor's Degree in Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture

1988 Master's Degree in Field Crops, Department of Natural Sciences

1993 Doctorate in Field Crops, Department of Natural Sciences

1995 Assistant Professor

2000 Associate Professor

2006 Professor

Crop production, Agronomy of field crops, Crop physiology and phenology

Türkçe, İngilizce

Prof. Dr. Uğur Bilgili was born on November 20, 1968, in Ağrı-Eleşkirt. He completed his primary and secondary education in Bursa. He graduated from the Department of Field Crops at Uludağ University Faculty of Agriculture in 1991. In 1994, he began his master's studies in the same department, specializing in Forage Crops and Pasture Science, and completed his master's thesis entitled "A Study on Important Morphological and Agricultural Characteristics of Nearly Isogenic Forage Pea Lines with Different Leaf Characteristics" in 1997. In 1998, he attended "The Second International Course on Protected Cultivation of Crops" in Israel. In 2002, he completed his doctoral thesis entitled "The Effects of Treading and Nitrogen Fertilization on Plant Development and Turf Quality in Football Field Turf Mixtures". Between July 28, 2004, and January 28, 2005, he spent six months at the University of Nebraska, USA, conducting research on turfgrass with a TÜBİTAK Overseas Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. He became an assistant professor in February 2005, an associate professor in November 2006, and a full professor in May 2012. He has 96 publications, including 1 book, 10 book chapters, 51 articles (37 of which are in internationally indexed journals), and 34 conference presentations. He has also successfully completed 13 projects. He currently works at the Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Uludağ University, Bursa.

Born March 1, 1966 (official)

Bachelor's Degree: Cumhuriyet University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field Crops (1990)

Master's Degree: Gaziosmanpaşa University, Institute of Science, Department of Field Crops (1994)

Doctorate: Ege University, Institute of Science, Department of Field Crops (2000)

Prof. Dr. Mehmet Salih Sayar – Short Academic Biography
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Salih Sayar received his Bachelor’s degree in Field Crops from Dicle University in 2001. He completed his Master’s degree in 2007 and his Ph.D. in 2011 at the Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Çukurova University, with thesis research focused on field crops. He is currently a faculty member at Dicle University, Bismil Vocational School, where he also holds administrative responsibilities.
Prof. Dr. Sayar has served as a principal investigator, coordinator, advisor, and researcher in numerous research and applied projects, making significant contributions particularly in the fields of forage crops and rangeland improvement. He has published extensively in internationally indexed scientific journals and has been awarded scientific publication incentives by TÜBİTAK. In addition, he has developed and registered two distinct forage crop cultivars within the scope of plant breeding studies.
In addition to his editorial roles and extensive experience as a reviewer for peer-reviewed scientific journals, Prof. Dr. Sayar has authored and co-authored scientific books and book chapters. His scholarly contributions have primarily focused on the agronomic characteristics of field crops and forage crops, as presented in various published academic volumes.