Throughout 2025, Sakarya University promoted sustainable land and agricultural resource management through academic programmes, practical sustainability education and research. By combining university teaching with community-oriented learning initiatives, the university supports the protection of soil resources, responsible agricultural practices, biological pest management and circular approaches to agricultural waste.
Undergraduate education in the Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Arts and Sciences includes courses that provide scientific foundations for sustainable land use, soil conservation, plant health and environmentally responsible agricultural management. Relevant courses available through Sakarya University’s Education Information System include:
· Toprak Kirliliği ve Kontrolü (Soil Pollution and Control)
· Tarımsal Bitkiler (Agricultural Plants)
· Biyolojik Mücadele (Biological Control)
· Entegre Zararlı Yönetimi (Integrated Pest Management)
· Ekoloji, Bilim ve Sürdürülebilirlik (Ecology, Science and Sustainability)
· Bitki Fizyolojisi (Plant Physiology)
Together, these courses address contaminant behaviour and soil remediation, agricultural plant science, biological alternatives to chemical pest control, ecological sustainability and plant responses to environmental stress. Through their disciplinary content and relevant laboratory or application-based components, students build knowledge applicable to reducing pressure on terrestrial ecosystems and improving the long-term management of agricultural land.
The Science&Future – The Science for Stronger Societies project, coordinated by Sakarya University under Horizon Europe MSCA & Citizens, continued its educational outreach in 2025 in cooperation with regional academic and school partners. The project brings sustainability-related scientific knowledge to young audiences through school presentations and interactive activities, expanding educational access beyond university students.
A particularly relevant example was the sustainable agriculture educational activity held on 27 May 2025 as part of Science&Future in collaboration with Kocaeli University. At 29 Ekim Middle School, Prof. Dr. Rezzan Kasım introduced students to the environmental challenges associated with intensive land use, including soil degradation, erosion, desertification and the depletion of agricultural resources. The session explored sustainable alternatives such as organic agriculture, biodynamic and natural farming, permaculture, precision agriculture, good agricultural practices and the use of local resources and traditional seeds. By connecting these concepts to everyday food production and environmental responsibility, the activity encouraged students to consider how agricultural choices influence soil health and the preservation of natural resources.
These outreach activities strengthen understanding of the importance of fertile soils, biodiversity-friendly agricultural practices and the responsible use of land resources. The university’s coordinating role in Science&Future supports the sharing of practical environmental knowledge among schools and communities across the region.
Figure 1. Sustainable agriculture awareness and soil conservation education delivered under the Sakarya University-coordinated Science&Future project
Sakarya University complements education and outreach with research addressing soil-related environmental pressures, the sustainable use of biological resources and the recovery of value from agricultural by-products. The academic scope of Soil Pollution and Control includes the transport of organic and inorganic contaminants, contaminated-site remediation and measures designed to protect soil quality; this supports knowledge transfer between scientific research and environmental practice.
In 2025, the university initiated a doctoral research project entitled “Development of Multifunctional Edible and Biodegradable Packaging Materials from Different Agricultural Wastes” (project no. 2025-27-69-75; commencement date: 24 June 2025). This work explores the conversion of agricultural residues into higher-value biodegradable materials. By investigating productive uses for biomass that might otherwise become waste, the project supports resource efficiency and circular approaches to agricultural by-product management, complementing the university’s educational emphasis on sustainable land and resource use.
The university’s coordination of Science&Future and its cooperation with regional academic partners further reinforce the connection between research and public education. Through this combination of academic teaching, school outreach and applied research on agricultural materials, Sakarya University contributes to SDG 15: Life on Land by promoting knowledge and practices relevant to sustainable land management and the conservation of terrestrial resources.
