Digital Agriculture Technologies Program

In today’s world, global climate change, population growth, the depletion of natural resources and the need for greater efficiency in agricultural production have made the integration of digital technologies into the agricultural sector essential. The Digital Agriculture Technologies Programme at Konya University of Food and Agriculture has been established to spearhead this global transformation; its aim is to train highly qualified specialists who can effectively utilise digital technologies in agriculture, make data-driven decisions, and demonstrate innovation and strong practical skills.

Traditional farming methods are giving way to data-driven, sustainable and technology-based approaches in a rapidly changing world. The Digital Agriculture Technologies Programme is an innovative undergraduate programme that integrates plant and animal production processes with artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), automation, drone technologies and big data analytics. Our aim is to train ‘digital agriculture specialists’ who will lead the digital transformation of the agriculture and livestock sectors – specialists who understand both the land and living organisms, whilst also being able to manage technology.

3+1 Education Model: Industry-Integrated Training

Our programme is delivered through the 3+1 Education Model, which ensures that our students graduate as ‘experienced’ professionals.

• First 3 Semesters (Theoretical and Laboratory Training): Our students study the fundamentals of plant and animal production, agricultural technologies, and courses in coding and robotics both in the classroom and in our modern practical facilities.
• Final Semester (Work-Based Professional Training): Our students spend the entirety of their final semester (on a full-time basis) working at leading digital agriculture firms, smart greenhouses/farms, R&D centres or technology-focused agricultural enterprises.

Thanks to the 3+1 model, our students establish strong links with the business world before they even graduate, add one term’s worth of full-time work experience to their CVs, and have the opportunity to be employed by the organisations where they gained their professional experience.

Graduates, with their interdisciplinary skills combining agriculture and information technology, have employment opportunities in the public sector, the private sector and the start-up sector.

• They can be employed by private sector firms operating in the fields of digital agricultural technologies, precision farming applications, smart irrigation systems and agricultural data management,
• They can find employment opportunities in technology firms developing agricultural machinery, sensor technologies, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, unmanned agricultural vehicles, automation and agricultural software,
• They can work in businesses specialising in horticulture, smart greenhouse systems, vertical farming and controlled production,
• They can take on roles in the fields of agricultural data analysis, remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS) and agricultural decision support systems,
• They can work in departments responsible for agricultural production, rural development and digital transformation within institutions and organisations affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry,
• They can play a role in the planning and implementation of digital agriculture applications within local authorities, development agencies, cooperatives and agricultural consultancy organisations,
• They may work as data analysts or systems specialists, analysing collected agricultural data and drawing conclusions from it to help farmers produce more efficiently,
• They may provide consultancy to farmers and producers in the agricultural sector on the use of artificial intelligence and digital agriculture technologies,
• They may work in agricultural pesticide companies on the use of artificial intelligence in pest control and disease management,
• They may work in R&D centres to develop digital agriculture solutions,
• Graduates may set up their own businesses, operating in the fields of smart agriculture solutions, agricultural consultancy, drone services and digital agriculture technologies,

Furthermore, students graduating from the programme have the opportunity to complete their education with a four-year bachelor’s degree by transferring to suitable degree programmes via the Vertical Transfer Examination (DGS). This provides graduates with the opportunity to attain higher-level positions and advance their careers.