TRICAAS Forges New Partnership in Turkey

A delegation led by Institute’s DDG, Prof. Dr. Mingzhe Yao, strengthened international ties during a visit to Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University (RTEU) from 21-25 May.

The Institute's team engaged in substantive discussions with RTEU Rector Prof. Yusuf Yılmaz and Vice Rector Prof. Mete Avcı, where both institutions shared insights on the development of national tea industries and formalized their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding. In his welcome address, Yılmaz highlighted the partnership's potential to enhance capabilities across Turkey's tea sector, while Yao outlined plans for researcher exchanges, joint training programs, and postgraduate education.

During the visit to the university’s campus, the delegation captivated RTEU audiences with immersive cultural experiences - including a traditional Chinese tea ceremony demonstration - alongside technical presentations on tea germplasm innovation, sustainable cultivation practices, and mechanization in tea plantations. These engagements sparked vibrant dialogue among faculty and students of RTEU.

The visit coincided with Turkey's International Tea Day celebrations, where our team gained firsthand insights at key industry sites. From the research laboratories of state-owned Çaykur to the bustling Rize Tea Bazaar and modern processing facilities, TRICAAS experts exchanged knowledge on production optimization and market development strategies within Turkey's tea-growing heartland.

The Institute looks forward to expanding this promising collaboration, leveraging the new partnership to accelerate international tea research breakthroughs.