The institution’s mission is to ensure the sustainable use of agricultural and ecological resources, improve living standards in rural areas, and secure safe, high-quality food for Turkey and global markets. Its vision is to become a competent and transformative organization that works effectively in both rural and urban contexts, remains closely connected to stakeholders and consumers, and provides expert solutions to diverse agricultural challenges. It carries out research in agricultural water management, soil management, climate adaptation, and agricultural economics, developing efficient irrigation technologies, promoting sustainable soil use, assessing climate impacts, and conducting socio-economic analyses. The institution also provides training and capacity building through national and international courses, strengthens collaborations with universities and organizations, shares knowledge via data systems and publications, and partners with public and private institutions to support strategic R&D efforts.
Weblink: https://arastirma.tarimorman.gov.tr/izmirutaem/Sayfalar/EN/AnaSayfa.aspx
Bayram AKYOL, Water Resources Engineer, PhD Candidate, Leading the project in Türkiye
Research Engineer at the Uluslararası Tarımsal Araştırma ve Eğitim Merkezi Müdürlüğü (UTAEM) in İzmir, Türkiye, he holds an M.Sc. in Water Resources Management from the University of South Australia (2020) and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Ege University. His expertise focuses on sustainable agricultural water management, improving agricultural water quality, and promoting the reuse of treated wastewater for agriculture. He leads the EMPOWERMed Project in Türkiye under the PRIMA program and contributes to additional national and international projects, collaborating with partners to develop innovative and climate-resilient water solutions for the agricultural sector.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bayram-akyol-88947018a/
Researchgate Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bayram-Akyol-2?ev=hdr_xprf
ORCID Profile: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4427-1676
Web of Science Profile: https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/AEL-9980-2022
Google Scholar Profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=PSFiwEoAAAAJ&hl=en
Dr. Perihan TARI AKAP, Agricultural Engineer, PhD,
PhD in Farm Structures and Irrigation from Ege University, Türkiye. She works as a researcher at the Uluslararası Tarımsal Araştırma ve Eğitim Merkezi Müdürlüğü (UTAEM), focusing on water quality, wastewater reuse, and sustainable irrigation practices. Within EMPOWERMed, she is responsible for implementing the field trials and conducting irrigation water quality analyses to assess the safe use of water in pilot area in addition to Menemen Plain.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/perihan-tari-akap
Researchgate Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Perihan-Tari-Akap
Dr. Zübeyde ALBAYRAM DOĞAN, Agricultural Economist, PhD
Deputy Director at UTAEM. Has double bachelor degrees on Agriculture Engineering (Ege University) and Administration (Anadolu University). Master degree is on Business Economics and Management at MaiCh/CIHEAM. PhD on agricultural organizations based on cooperatives (Ege University). Her expertise is on agricultural economics and policies specified on agricultural organizations and natural resources economy. Worked as an assistant researcher at several national and international research projects. Pilot leader (TR) of NEXUSLABS (2025-2028) and LENSES (2021-2024) Projects (Horizon 2020) and worked as an assistant researcher at FATIMA Project (Horizon 2020) between 2015-2018, funded by EU.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/z%C3%BCbeyde-albayram-do%C4%9Fan-01b050107/
Researchgate Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Zuebeyde-Albayram-Dogan
Dr. Gözen YÜCEERİM, Agricultural Engineer, PhD
Researcher at the Uluslararası Tarımsal Araştırma ve Eğitim Merkezi Müdürlüğü (UTAEM) in the Department of Climate Change and Agroecology. Bachelor degree in Agricultural Engineering (Ege University). Master’s degree in agricultural irrigation (Ege University). PhD in agricultural drought detection and analysis (Ege University). Her expertise is in the determination, monitoring and evaluation of agricultural drought, as well as soil moisture, precipitation, streamflow monitoring and hydrological models. Worked as an assistant researcher in several national and international research projects such as LENSES project (Horizon 2020) between 2021-2024 and in FATIMA project (Horizon 2020) between 2015-2018, funded by EU.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/g%C3%B6zen-y-77a33a240?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
Researchgate Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gozen-Yuceerim
İlker Murat Keskin, Sociologist / Agricultural Engineer, Mr.
He holds double bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and Field Crops from Süleyman Demirel University and Uşak University in Türkiye. Since 2022, he has been working as a Sociologist at the Uluslararası Tarımsal Araştırma ve Eğitim Merkezi Müdürlüğü (UTAEM). His research interests include rural sociology, rural monographs, social science methodologies, statistics, digital imaging systems, organizational studies, breeding methods and methodology, soil microbiology, ecology, and soil biochemistry.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilker-murat-keskin-52912221b/
Researchgate Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ilker-Keskin-6?ev=hdr_xprf
Talha ÖZÇELİK, Agricultural Engineer, PhD Candidate
Research Engineer at UTAEM and PhD candidate in Agricultural Structures and Irrigation from Ege University, Türkiye. He specializes in environmental and hydrological modelling, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions modelling, and advanced water management systems. His work focuses on integrating modelling approaches to improve agricultural drainage efficiency and sustainable water use in agroecosystems.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talha-%C3%B6z%C3%A7elik-070165163/
Researchgate Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Talha-Oezcelik