Associate Prof. Candan Türkkan’s Project Awarded Horizon Europe Grant

An international agriculture project with Associate Prof. Candan Türkkan from the Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Department at Özyeğin University as a member of its project management team has been awarded a Horizon Europe grant, the European Union’s flagship and most prestigious research and innovation program.

The project “Next-Generation Skills and Knowledge Ecosystems for Competitive and Sustainable Farming (AGRINEXT)” seeks to catalyze a transformative shift in the European agricultural sector. Spanning 54 months, AGRINEXT brings together 21 academic and industry partners from 12 countries, reflecting a strong interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration.

Representing Özyeğin University, Associate Prof. Türkkan will lead Work Package 2 (WP2): Mapping and Comparing Lifelong Learning Systems, one of the project’s key pillars. Together with her research team, Türkkan will examine agricultural education and training systems in more than 20 countries, laying the foundation for practical and scalable models applicable across Europe. In addition, she will oversee the project’s pilot implementation and field studies in Türkiye.

Designed to enhance the resilience of the agricultural sector in response to global challenges such as climate change, digital transformation, and biodiversity loss, AGRINEXT will deliver a suite of innovative solutions, including:

• AgriAI-Assistant: A multilingual, AI-powered learning tool designed for agricultural professionals
• FutureFit Competency Model: A new model that allows for the identification of the skills required for the future of farming
• AgriLLL-Cred System: A micro-credentialing system enabling Europe-wide recognition of skills acquired by farmers and agricultural advisors

OzU continues to develop powerful and pioneering projects at the very intersections of academic, sectoral, and public collaborations among various stakeholders. For more information regarding another important project:

https://www.ozyegin.edu.tr/en/announcements/39897