WoCo2026 World Congress Day 8: Hektaş Technical Visit, Orhangazi Municipality and Ege University Faculty of Agriculture Visits, Development Fund Gala

On the 8th day of the WoCo2026 World Congress, a technical visit was organized to Hektaş, one of the leading companies in the Turkish agricultural sector. Young agricultural leaders, students, and IAAS representatives from different countries had the opportunity to learn about current developments in the sector at Hektaş, one of Turkey's leading agricultural pesticide and plant protection product companies.

During the technical visit, Hektaş experts gave comprehensive presentations to the participants about the company's areas of activity, plant protection product development processes, sustainable agricultural practices, and innovative solutions to increase productivity in agricultural production. Participants had the opportunity to closely examine the technologies developed to address current problems facing agricultural production and gained detailed information about the importance of research and development activities in the sector.

The work carried out by Hektaş, which plays a significant role in the development of Turkish agriculture, was followed with interest by international participants, and information and experience were shared between sector representatives and students during the technical visit. The visit contributed to young people getting to know career opportunities in the agricultural sector more closely and evaluating agricultural developments on a global scale.

Following the Hektaş visit, the congress delegation visited Orhangazi Municipality. Participants, welcomed by municipal officials, were given information about Orhangazi's agricultural potential, the work of local governments towards agriculture and rural development, and the region's production capacity. During the meetings, ideas were exchanged on the role of local governments in sustainable agricultural policies and opportunities for international cooperation. Following the municipality visit, the program continued with a visit to the Ege University Faculty of Agriculture. Participants received information about the educational activities, scientific research, and agricultural innovation studies conducted at the faculty, one of Turkey's long-established faculties of agriculture. Meeting with academics, the students exchanged views on university-industry cooperation, sustainable agricultural technologies, and research on the future of agriculture, evaluating the importance of international academic collaborations.

The evening program included the Development Fund Night, a traditional event of the congress. During the event, participants sold various items they had brought from their home countries, donating the proceeds to the IAAS Development Fund. The event, which attracted great interest, saw participants sharing products from different cultures, and the income generated was transferred to the fund to support IAAS's international student activities, training programs, and future projects.

The event, which highlighted cultural interaction, solidarity, and the spirit of international cooperation, allowed participants to have an enjoyable time while also making a significant contribution to global student solidarity, one of the aims of the WoCo2026 World Congress. The 8th day program, which combined technical tours, academic visits, and social responsibility activities, concluded with participants gaining enriching professional and cultural experiences.