We want to join an existing consortium as a Partner. We work on wild-growing medicinal, aromatic and edible plants collected from forest and forest-edge habitats. Species range from bay laurel, oregano, sage, thyme and Hypericum to fruit-bearing species such as rosehip, hawthorn, cornelian cherry, sea buckthorn and wild berries, as well as linden and juniper. In a project we can take a defined task on:
---resource assessment and mapping of wild populations, and sustainable collection strategies covering harvesting intensity, timing and regeneration
---genetic diversity and population structure of wild stands using molecular markers, chemotype identification and genotype based selection of superior material
---practical guidelines, handbooks and training material for local collectors and forest villagers
---post-harvest handling and processing, drying, storage and extraction, and the quality parameters that determine market value
---chemical and essential oil profiling of collected material, and testing of its pharmacological and bioactive properties
---quality and traceability criteria linking sustainable collection to certified, higher-value products

Atatürk University is a leading public research university in Türkiye. Our team is an interdisciplinary group of researchers from the Faculty of Agriculture, the Faculty of Pharmacy and the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics. The team also includes researchers from Faculties of Forestry at other universities and experts from public forest institutions such as the General Directorate of Forestry. This structure allows us to cover the full chain from wild populations of a species through genetic and chemical characterisation to its biological activity, and at the same time to work directly with the forest administration, securing field access, permits and the translation of results into practice.

The expertise of our group covers field and forest sampling, characterisation of genetic resources, and the analysis of population diversity and structure by molecular genetic methods. We determine the chemical and essential oil profiles of the collected material, optimise processing and extraction conditions, and test the pharmacological and bioactive properties of the resulting extracts. We also prepare applied guidelines and training materials for collectors and producers. Our group has experience in Horizon Europe consortia and an established network of European partners.