Sultan Sera, a MB Holding company, which became Turkey’s first integrated facility heated by geothermal energy in greenhouse farming with an investment of 300 million TL in the marsh in Köşk district of Aydın, has become an example in the economy.
MB Holding has paved the way for the use of geothermal energy in agriculture by establishing Sultan Sera, Turkey’s first integrated geothermal facility, and by reclaiming the unsuitable marshy land for agriculture. Sultan Sera A.Ş. General Manager Neslihan Budaklı, who stated that Sultan Sera, established with the support of the Dutch Ministry of Innovation, is the first integrated facility heated by geothermal in greenhouse farming and sets an example for Turkey in this respect, said, “As MB Holding, which started to produce truss tomatoes with the soilless agriculture method in 2012, we produce in Turkey’s technologically advanced and highest greenhouse with the comfort of geothermal energy and the healthy production method brought by biological control.”
Geothermal Advantage
MB Holding, which established Sultan Sera in the Yavuzköy Neighborhood of Köşk District in 2008 with an investment of 300 million liras in a swamp that was causing environmental distress, started producing truss tomatoes with the soilless farming method in 2012. 160 tons of tomatoes produced in Turkey’s most modern greenhouse last year were exported abroad. Budaklı, who stated that they brought the swampy land that is not suitable for agriculture into the economy with a sample project, said; “We are producing soilless tomatoes in Aydın with the geothermal heated technological glass greenhouse in Sultan Sera. We made the investment on the land that was previously in the swamp and did not contribute to the economy. While bringing the idle land into the economy with this investment, we used the waste geothermal energy left after electricity production in heating the greenhouse. Thus, we also protected the arable lands in accordance with their purpose. For facility investments, idle lands that are not suitable for agriculture should be selected.”
Advanced Agricultural Practices
Budaklı said, “Thanks to advanced agricultural practices, production can now be carried out even on the most infertile lands. Moreover, the products grown are not affected by winter conditions at all. With the comfort of geothermal energy and the healthy production method brought by biological control, we produce in Turkey’s technological and highest greenhouse. The tomato seedlings we use in production for 11 months on 40 acres of land grow up to 17 meters by the end of the year. We harvest one bunch every week. The harvested bunches weigh approximately 650-700 grams. Everything from air conditioning the greenhouse to packaging the tomatoes is done without human touch. The latest technology is used in the greenhouse. The tomatoes collected are taken to packaging by unmanned vehicles. Due to the increasing demand in the domestic market due to adverse weather conditions, we are currently producing for chain markets in Istanbul. Our international exports are to EU countries, Russia and the Gulf countries.”
Season Record Exceeded
Budaklı, who stated that they also exceeded the season record, said; “Sultan Sera A.Ş. reached the season record production capacity by combining its technology and knowledge capacities. Sultan Sera, which is in its fifth season in soilless production with its geothermal heated technological glass greenhouse, reached the winter season record of 2015-2016 in vine tomato cultivation. In our greenhouse, which brings lands unsuitable for agriculture into the economy with the soilless farming method and is shown as an exemplary project in terms of using our country’s natural resources in the most effective way, 90 percent of the production is done by women. Women employment in production is very important for us in terms of increasing the level of welfare and sustaining development. As a company, we especially focus on women employment. We provided employment opportunities to the surrounding villages, especially the Mansion. Our women crowned our success.”
Sultan Sera Became an Education Center
Budaklı, who stated that the technical equipment provides a suitable environment for the education and training of universities, and that Sultan Sera employees are provided with an encouraging working environment in addition to professional development training, said; “In our greenhouse, which we have transformed into a training center, we consider it our duty to train qualified greenhouse employees and to inform the local people from time to time about the importance of greenhouse farming. Sultan Sera, which has become an example of success, has managed to become a symbol of women’s power in the region with the fact that the majority of its employees are women. We would like to thank all our team members who have contributed to taking our success to the next level.”
Key to Success: Technological Infrastructure and Model Production Techniques
Stating that they aim for organic nutrition in agriculture by using biological control techniques and that they had a very active season in this context, Neslihan Budaklı said; “All kinds of production in our business are carried out and documented according to process quality systems. Our production discipline and sales strategy carried out this year enabled us to achieve great success. The quality and tonnage effect achieved in the cluster increased our marketing power and it was a year in which we achieved superiority compared to previous years in terms of sales figures. The sales we realized and customer satisfaction returned to us as a source of motivation and a success story. The basis of this success lies in Sultan Sera’s advanced technological infrastructure and state-of-the-art production techniques. Just having knowledge or just having an advanced technological greenhouse is not enough for this, these two parameters must come together flawlessly and be meticulously applied. We would like to thank our Honorary Chairman of MB Holding, Mr. Muharrem Balat and his team, who have contributed greatly to our success and always given us the greatest support.”
Became an Example for Turkey
MB Holding Honorary President Muharrem Balat stated that geothermal water is needed less in winter to generate electricity and more energy is produced in cold weather; “During the period when energy increased, we chose to heat the greenhouse and take back some of our water. We also set up a greenhouse. There was a swampy area in Aydın. It was a swamp, no plants could grow. Animals were sinking. They would come and rescue the animals that sank there with a crane. We dried that area and made that area a beautiful modern greenhouse. A 40-acre greenhouse. This is a very modern greenhouse. We created a biological cultivation without using any pesticides, germicidal drugs, and Europe started to import the products it grew there without any problems. After that, Russia bought the first tomato it bought from our greenhouse with confidence. In this way, it became a beautiful example for Turkey.”
