Students from Mediha Mahmutbey Middle School visited Bornova Municipality’s Ecological City Local Seed Center, where agricultural engineers taught them about the importance of local seeds and natural farming. During the event, the children were gifted chicks raised by the municipality, helping instill a love for living creatures and a sense of responsibility. Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki emphasized their commitment to fostering an awareness of production among children from an early age to build a sustainable future.

Bornova Municipality hosted a meaningful gathering to instill agricultural awareness and a love of the environment in children from an early age. Students from Bornova Mediha Mahmutbey Middle School visited the Ecological City Local Seed Center, where they learned the fundamentals of sustainable agriculture firsthand.

Tomorrow’s Environmental Stewards Discover the Journey of Seeds

During the visit, agricultural engineers from the Directorate of Agricultural Services provided students with interactive training. The children learned about the vital importance of preserving heirloom local seeds for biodiversity and food security. After receiving information about natural farming methods, the students listened with great interest to the story of how seeds at the center are planted and grown.

At the end of the event, the students were gifted adorable chicks raised by Bornova Municipality. The children’s happiness was evident as they bonded with the chicks they held in their hands for the first time.

Mayor Eşki: “We Are Instilling an Awareness of Production in Our Children”

Stating that preserving local values and passing them on to future generations is central to their vision, Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki said:

“If we want to build a sustainable future in Bornova, we must start with our children. At our Ecological City Local Seed Center, we introduce our children both to our heirloom local seeds, a legacy from our ancestors, and to the natural world. We do more than teach them about agriculture; by gifting them the chicks we raise, we also instill a love for living creatures and a sense of responsibility. We are determined to raise a generation that cares for its soil, seeds, and all living things.”

Thousands of Years of Heritage Preserved at the Center

Located inside Bornova Central Indoor Market, the Ecological City Local Seed Center serves as a kind of gene bank. Operated by Bornova Municipality’s Directorate of Agricultural Services, the center carefully archives and preserves approximately 1,000 to 1,200 different varieties of local seeds.

The center’s activities include:

• Preserving, multiplying, and distributing local seeds to ensure they are passed down through generations.

• Providing residents with free seedlings and seeds to support local production throughout the district.

• Raising public awareness through seed exchange festivals and agricultural training programs.

• Organizing sustainable, nature-friendly farming courses for farmers and local residents.