Sustainable Agroecosystems, Bioenergy & Forage Crops and Circular Soil–Biomass Systems under Mediterranean Conditions

Our research team seeks to actively participate in an MSCA Staff Exchanges (SE) 2026 consortium focusing on sustainable, climate-resilient agroecosystems and biomass-based circular solutions. Based in southern Turkey under Mediterranean climatic conditions, we bring long-standing expertise in forage and bioenergy production systems involving perennial grasses, legumes, sorghum (forage, sweet, grain; annual and perennial types) and maize.

We offer strong capacity in field-based experimental research addressing crop diversification strategies, including intercropping, mixed cropping, cover cropping and crop rotation, combined with organic fertilization and sustainable soil management practices. Our research activities aim to enhance soil organic matter, carbon sequestration, land-use efficiency, biodiversity, water retention capacity and nutrient cycling, contributing directly to agroecosystem resilience and sustainable land management.

The team maintains diverse germplasm resources of key field crops (e.g. sorghum, guar, peanut, soybean, teff grass, ryegrass, clover, bulbous canary grass and tall wheatgrass), enabling collaborative research on germplasm characterization, biodiversity-based cropping systems and genotype–environment interactions. These assets provide a strong foundation for interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral secondments, particularly linking crop science, soil science, bioenergy, and circular bioeconomy research.

Within an MSCA Staff Exchanges framework, we are highly motivated to contribute to international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary mobility by hosting and seconding R&I staff. We are especially interested in joint projects addressing:

Forage and bioenergy production on marginal and low-input lands

Circular use of organic wastes in agroecosystems

Renewable energy production from biomass and organic residues

Soil restoration, reclamation and carbon-focused land management

Crop diversification and agroecological farming systems

Through staff secondments, joint field trials, workshops and knowledge-exchange activities, we aim to foster long-term international collaboration, strengthen R&I capacity, and support the development of transferable skills, entrepreneurial thinking and innovative, application-oriented solutions aligned with the objectives of MSCA Staff Exchanges.