Admitted to the United Nations UNESCO UNITWIN Network: Our University Takes the Lead in the “Forgotten Food Crops of the Himalayas” Project

The UNESCO UNITWIN Network proposal titled “Himalayan Biodiversity Network for the Revitalization of Forgotten Food Plants,” to be coordinated by Madan Bhandari University of Science and Technology (MBUST) in Nepal, has been approved. The project brings together universities and research institutions from 12 countries: Nepal, Bangladesh, Türkiye, Pakistan, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Argentina, Peru, Kazakhstan, Italy, and China.

Four Universities from Türkiye Will Contribute

From Türkiye, Prof. Dr. Faheem Shehzad Baloch, a faculty member in the Department of Biotechnology at our university’s Faculty of Science, will contribute to the project alongside Prof. Dr. Mehtap Yıldız from Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Prof. Dr. Hatıra Taşkın from Çukurova University, and Prof. Dr. Durmuş Alpaslan Kaya from the Faculty of Agriculture at Hatay Mustafa Kemal University.

The Critical Role of Our University and Prof. Dr. Baloch

The role of our university and Prof. Dr. Faheem Shehzad Baloch is particularly prominent in the project. Prof. Dr. Baloch will participate in studies on plant genomics, molecular breeding, genetic resource characterization, and genetic mapping of underutilized plant species in the Himalayas, and will contribute to whole-genome resequencing and pangenome development activities. He will also support the network’s capacity-building and scientific collaboration goals through scientific advisory services, thematic working groups, training programs, workshops, academic exchanges, joint supervision of graduate students, joint international research proposals, and publications.

Traditional Food Crops to Be Protected

Within the scope of the project, the goal is to conduct genomic characterization, biomaterial and bioactive compound research, and conservation using in vitro preservation and plant tissue culture techniques for traditional food crops in the Himalayan region that are threatened by climate change, diseases, and genetic erosion. The network will contribute to the conservation of Himalayan biodiversity and international scientific collaboration by integrating research, education, capacity building, and community participation.

Press and Public Relations Department