The GMO Analysis Kit, of which R&D and design processes have been completed in cooperation with the DESAM Research Institute, Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Near East University, will be used in the analysis of vegetable seeds coming to the TRNC in the first place.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Near East University signed an important cooperation on the control of the use of genetically modified products (GMO), which is one of the most important issues of food safety and public health. In the fight against GMOs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources will use the GMO Analysis Kit, of which &D and design processes have been completed in cooperation with the DESAM Research Institute, Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Near East University.
With the cooperation announced at the press conference held at the Near East University Hospital, it is aimed to more effectively detect and control GMO products in food seeds, food products and feed.
Near East University Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, Director of Agriculture Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Reşat Değirmenci, Dean of Near East University Faculty of Agriculture Prof. Dr. Özge Özden, Near East University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Deputy Dean Assoc. Prof. Dr. Beyza Ulusoy and one of the Near East University Kit Production Laboratory staff, Dr. Gülten Tuncel and Dr. Gökçe Akan made important statements on the issue at the press conference.
Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “The GMO Analysis Kit, of which we have completed the R&D and design processes, will provide very important gains for our country in terms of public health.”
Emphasizing that the Near East University has gained significant experience and knowledge with the health researches they accelerated during the pandemic period and the products they developed and put into use, especially the COVID-19 PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis kit, Near East University Deputy Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said, “This experience we have gained also serves as a source for new projects that we have developed and worked on for our country and society in different fields.”
Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ said, “We carry out research, develop and produce with our high-tech facilities, especially the COVID-19 PCR Laboratory, Kit Production Laboratory, Genome Analysis Laboratory, and our highly competent staff working in these laboratories. Finally, the GMO Analysis Kit, of which we have completed the R&D and design processes, will also provide very important gains for our country in terms of public health.”
Emphasizing that they have established very strong cooperation from the past with the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources in many fields, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ stated that “GMO Analysis of food products, seeds and feed entering our country is a very important part of these cooperations”. Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said, “I would like to thank the Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources Dursun Oğuz and the esteemed bureaucrats of our ministry for their determined approach in the fight against GMOs.”
Reşat Değirmenci, Director of Agriculture Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources: “It is a great step to be able to carry out these analyzes in our country with the GMO Analysis Kit developed by the Near East University.”
Reşat Değirmenci, Director of the Department of Agriculture, said that as the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, they closely follow the studies carried out by the Near East University and the kits they have developed, and pointed out; “Food safety in particular is of great importance for our ministry, our country and our people. GMO is one of the most important issues in terms of food safety.”
Reşat Değirmenci, Director of the Department of Agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, also said that there are many references to the use of GMOs in current laws, and said, “The entry of GMO seeds and products obtained from these seeds into the TRNC is strictly prohibited. Thus, in addition to the certificates of the products in seed imports, we also want a report showing that they are non-GMO. In the same way, we operate the same process for the feeds entering the country. However, it is vital that the samples taken from these products can be analyzed in our country in order to carry out the necessary inspections and controls. It is a great step to be able to perform these analyzes in our country with the GMO Analysis Kit developed by Near East University.
Prof. Dr. Özge Özden: “This project, which we will carry out in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, in the fight against GMOs, exactly overlaps with the priority objectives of our faculty.”
Stating that GMO analyzes will start with vegetable seeds in the first stage, Prof. Dr. Özge Özden said that as a result of the meetings they will hold with the officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, it will be determined which products will be given priority in the GMO analysis. Stating that GMO analyzes will be carried out at the DESAM Research Institute laboratories operating on campus of the Near East University, Prof. Dr. Özden said, “We will share the results with the public with a transparent policy together with our Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Beyza Ulusoy: “The GMO Analysis Kit developed by the Near East University will be an important milestone in the TRNC in terms of public health.”
Emphasizing that they carry out important studies in the fields of food hygiene, food safety and food technology, especially in animal foods, Near East University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Deputy Dean Assoc. Prof. Dr. Beyza Ulusoy said, “Consumers are very worried and reactive about genetically modified products (GMO), which has become very common in recent years in food safety and public health issues. The use of GMOs should be well controlled and regulated. The GMO Analysis Kit developed by the Near East University will be an important milestone in the TRNC in terms of public health. Stating that GMO products are also used as raw materials in many products, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Beyza Ulusoy said, “Since soy additives are used in many meat products such as salami, there is a concern for GMOs not only in plant products but also in animal products.”
Dr. Gülten Tuncel: “We have completed the R&D and design processes of the GMO Analysis Kit.”
Emphasizing that they have gained significant experience and knowledge with many projects and products they have developed, especially PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit, especially during the COVID-19 process, Dr. Gülten Tuncel said, “Our goal with the GMO Analysis Kit we have developed is to detect genetic changes in all food products, feed and seeds. Stating that the R&D and design processes of the GMO Analysis Kit have been completed, Dr. Tuncel said, “We will complete the optimization process in a short time and make the kit ready for use.”