Global Agribusiness Strategy & Innovation Leader with a proven track record in business development, research, and driving transformative agricultural innovations. Experienced in leading international projects, securing significant funding, and optimizing resources to achieve sustainable growth.
Career Highlights: • Coordinated a €100M vertical farming project in Germany, managing a €1M research budget. • Expanded market presence in Brazil for a microbial biotechnology company, achieving double-digit revenue growth. • Led product innovation for a microalgae biotechnology company across Europe, Asia, and America, launching nearly 10 plant nutrition products via the Stage-Gate process. • Enhanced brand visibility for an agrochemical fertilizer company, executing strategic media campaigns that doubled national recognition. • Directed R&D for a leading fertilizer producer, securing over €1M in grants for sustainable agriculture and technological advancements.
Education
PhD in Biochemistry (Marie Curie Fellowship)
University of Nantes, Nantes, France
February 2012
to February 2015
Thesis: Structure of citrus pectin, focusing on how extraction conditions affect its structural variations and the characterization of its building blocks.
European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT-Food), Belgium
June 2020
to June 2021
Program Highlights: • Business Modeling (Forward Fooding, England) • New Business Financial Models (Nagima Business Consulting, Italy) • Network Effects & Platform Economy (Azti, Spain) • Emerging Technologies (Deusto Business School, Spain) • Leadership in the COVID Era (Fair Saturday Foundation, Spain) • Public Engagement (Wageningen University, The Netherlands)
MBA, Food & Agribusiness Management (Food for Thought Fellowship)
Escola Superior De Propaganda E Marketing (ESPM), São Paulo, Brazil
Thesis: French wine market research in the USA, focusing on market trends, consumer behavior, and logistics. • Achievement: Finalist in the Agreen Startup Contest, organized by the French Chambres of Agriculture.
Thesis: Iodine (I) biofortification of vegetables, examining the impact of iodine forms and concentrations on plant growth and nutrient uptake.
Key Responsibilities: • Conducted evaluations of crop sorting, drying, and grinding of plant materials. • Led greenhouse trials to test the effects of iodine on plant growth. • Performed alkaline fusion preparation and iodine concentration analysis.
MSc in Plant Nutrition (DAAD Fellowship)
Leibniz University Hannover, Germany
September 2009
to September 2011
Thesis: Structural changes in rice leaves with Silicon (Si) amendment, focusing on suberization and lignification to enhance understanding of plant resilience and growth.
• Key Achievement: Gained admission to Anatolian High School based on high performance in the nationwide TEOG entrance exam.
Work Experience
Science Manager (Werner Siemens Foundation Grant)
Technical University of Munich
January 2023
to June 2024
Full-time
Germany
Led the "Revolution of Food Production" project within the Chair of Digital Agriculture, focusing on transforming vertical farming systems to enhance wheat crop yields while minimizing resource use in controlled environments. https://tinyurl.com/2pcsyrnx
Key Contributions: • Coordinated grant proposal collaboration across 27 Principal Investigators. • Organized and executed research events for 50 participants. • Spearheaded grant proposal development and managed a €1M research budget. • Led external communications, outsourcing journalists, editors, and translators to ensure clear project messaging.
Reporting to: Director of HEF (Top 1% Highly Cited Researcher by Web of Science)
Skills: Grant Writing , Grant Coordination, Vertical Farming, SAP ERP
Global Business Development Advisor
Supersol
June 2022
to December 2022
Consultant
Munich
Germany
Advised Supersol, a leading agrochemical firm, on international expansion strategies for its plant protection and nutrition products, including biofertilizers and microbials. https://supersol.com.tr/
Key Contributions: Successfully negotiated and secured a major distribution contract in Brazil, significantly enhancing the company's market presence in South America. (https://www.biotrop.com.br/)
Reporting to: CEO
Skills: Agrochemicals, International Business Development, Contract Negotiation
Corporate Spokesperson
CEON Global
January 2022
to June 2022
Consultant
Istanbul
Turkey
Led corporate communications for CEON Global, a multinational fertilizer manufacturing firm, positioning the company as a global leader in sustainable agriculture solutions. https://ceon.com.tr/
Key Contributions: Served as the primary spokesperson, engaging with international media outlets and industry conferences to promote the company’s innovative fertilizer products.
Reporting to: CEO
Skills: Corporate Communications, Media Relations
Global Business Development Manager
AlgaEnergy
February 2020
to January 2022
Temporary Replacement
İstanbul & Eugene
United States - Oregon
Led global business development initiatives for AlgaEnergy, a biotechnology firm focused on microalgae-based biostimulants, ensuring market penetration and growth across key regions. http://www.algaenergy.es
Key Contributions: • Spearheaded the development and implementation of marketing materials. • Directed product registration processes for multiple markets. • Engaged with key stakeholders and potential clients to drive business growth. • Prioritized and launched 10 new product concepts through the Stage-Gate Process.
Reporting to: President
Skills: Portfolio Management, Product Marketing, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Biostimulants, Field Trials
Research & Development Chief
Tekfen Holding, Toros Agri R&D Center
March 2018
to February 2020
Full-time
Mersin
Turkey
Led R&D efforts for Tekfen Holding, Turkey’s largest fertilizer producer, driving innovation in product development and quality assurance across AN, CAN, DAP, and NPK fertilizers. https://www.toros.com.tr/
Key Contributions: • Directed quality control processes, including sieve analysis, viscosity testing, anti-caking tests, and micro/macro element assessments. • Managed a team of 10 post-graduate researchers. • Spearheaded the construction of a 500 m² R&D Greenhouse, significantly increasing research capacity. • Quality Management training included Hoshin Kanri Strategic Planning and Kaizen Lean Manufacturing.
Reporting to: Vice President of Research
Skills: Quality Assurance, Research and Development, Kaizen
Global Marketing
Weenat
March 2016
to March 2017
Cooperative Education Work
Nantes
France
Supported Weenat, a French startup specializing in precision agriculture through innovative soil management sensors, by driving marketing efforts in international markets, particularly Brazil. https://www.weenat.com/
Reporting to: CEO
Skills: Precision Agriculture, Market Research
Research Scientist (Marie Curie PhD Fellowship)
French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA)
December 2012
to December 2016
Full-time
Nantes
France
At INRA, Europe's top agricultural research institute, characterization of pectic samples were studied to understand their composition and macromolecular properties. http://www.inra.fr/en/
Key collaborating institutions: Newcastle University and the University of Leeds (UK), University of Lisbon (Portugal), University of Potsdam and Max Planck Institute (Germany) and Bayer (Belgium).
Reporting to: Deputy Manager
Skills: Polysaccharides, Statistical Data Analysis
Visiting Research Scientist
CP Kelco R&D Center
April 2012
to September 2012
Temporary Replacement
Copenhagen
Denmark
At CP Kelco, a leading producer of hydrocolloids, functional tests on pectin samples were cconducted to evaluate their gelling and stabilizing properties for commercial applications. https://www.cpkelco.com/
Reporting to: Innovation Manager
Skills: Hydrocolloids
Awards, Skills and Trainings
Academic Distinctions
2020: Awarded the "BEST Business Ideas" by EIT-Food for developing sustainable fish feed solutions addressing global food security.
2018: Secured the Horizon 2020 (ERA-MIN) Grant for the Zeolite in Wastewater Management project, achieving a Scientific Excellence Score of 12/15. Partners: Fraunhofer (Germany), CNRS-IS2M (France), CSIC-ITQ (Spain), DBI-GUT GmbH (Germany), Manchester Metropolitan University (UK) etc.
2018: Received the TÜBİTAK 2244 Grant (2,290,656 TL) for the Phosphogypsum Waste Management project at Ankara University.
2018: Awarded another TÜBİTAK 2244 Grant (2,290,656 TL) for the Slow Release Nano-Fertilizer project at Mersin University.
Recognitions
2024: Invited to Science Day at the Turkish Embassy in Berlin for contributions as a scientist in Germany.
2024: Attended Welsh Alumni Networking at the British Embassy, Berlin, for international collaboration contributions.
2024: Appointed Jury Member for the Women's Academy for Rural Innovation in Croatia by the European Leadership Academy (HUAWEI’s EU Office).
2024: Invited by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper to the Executive Mansion for leadership in global agribusiness.
2023: Invited to the Republic Day Reception at Nymphenburg Palace, Munich, by the Turkish Consulate.
2022: Served as Jury Member for the Plant-Based Food R&D Competition at Middle East Technical University.
2022: Attended Queen's Platinum Jubilee Party at the British Consulate, Istanbul, for contributions as a UK-Alumni.
2022: Invited to UK-Alumni Reception at the British Ambassador's Residence, Ankara.
2022: Invited to the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Party at the British Consulate General, Istanbul, as a UK-Alumni.
2019: Invited to the Signing Ceremony of Projects by Turkey’s Industry and Technology Minister and TÜBİTAK President for contributions to the 2244 Projects, advancing research and development in Turkey.
2015: Invited to a reception by Nantes Mayor Johanna Rolland in honor of Foreign Researchers.
Albastawisi E, Kaya M, Fırat Ş, Kotan R. The efficacy of Pantoea agglomerans Strain RK-84 to control fire blight caused by Erwinia amylovora on pear orchards. Submitted August 2024.
Kaya M, Sousa AG, Crépeau MJ, Sørensen SO, Ralet MC. Characterization of citrus pectin samples extracted under different conditions: influence of acid type and pH of extraction. Annals of Botany. 2014 Oct;114(6):1319-26. (Cited by 240; Journal Impact Factor: 5.04)
Poster Presentations
2024: BioAgTech World Congress, Raleigh, North Carolina – The Efficacy of Pantoea agglomerans Strain RK-84 in Controlling Fire Blight Caused by Erwinia amylovora on Pear Orchards
2023: World Biostimulants Congress, Milan, Italy – Enhancing Silage Corn (Zea mays L.) Yield with Microbial Biostimulants
2021: World Biostimulants Congress, Miami, USA – Microalgae Increase Nutrient Uptake from the Soil
2013: Plants and People Conference, Potsdam, Germany – Structure of Citrus Pectin
2013: Gums & Stabilisers for the Food Industry Conference, Wrexham, Wales – Pectin Disassembly under Mild Acidic Conditions
Oral Presentations
2021: AGRX & Holden Research, Oxnard, California, USA – Microalgae
2016: European ICT Research & Innovation Proposers' Day, Bratislava, Slovakia – Digital Agriculture in Brazil
2014: International Conference on Polysaccharides-Glycoscience, Prague, Czech Republic – Citrus Pectin
LınkedIn, Artificial Intelligence for Business Leaders
LınkedIn, Leading with a Digital Mindset in the Age of AI
LınkedIn, Using AI in Research Projects
Agribusiness Events
2024, The World Food Forum, FAO HQ, Rome
2024, Sponsor, NewAG World Biostimulants Congress, Miami, USA 2023, Sponsor, NewAG World Biostimulants Congress, Milan, Italy 2023, Sponsor, New Ag International, Barcelona, Spain 2021, Sponsor, NewAG World Biostimulants Congress, Miami, USA
2024, Sponsor, BioAg World Congress, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA 2023, Sponsor, BioAg World Congress, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2023-24, Host, Weihenstephan Forum on the Future of Agricultural Policy, Technical University of Munich, Germany 2023, Host, The World Needs New Proteins AgriScience Symposium, Technical University of Munich, Germany
2021, Sponsor, Fruit Attraction Madrid, Spain
2021-24, Sponsor, GrowTech Fair Antalya 2019, Sponsor, National Plant Nutrition and Fertilizer Conference, Antalya 2018, Food and Agriculture Summit, Bloomberg TV, Istanbul 2018, Medical and Aromatic Plant Workshop, Silivri, Turkey
2016, Agrishow Fair, Brazil 2016, The Rungis International Market, Paris 2011, Agritechnica Fair Hannover, Germany
Social Responsibility
2023, Agnes-Mackensen-Program Mentor, Technical University of Munich, Germany -Empowering women without academic backgrounds to become future leaders, scientists, and startup founders.
2018, Child & Family Development Committee Director, Fenerbahçe Sports Club, Turkey. -'Books for Kids' Project promoted children's literacy through book donations.
2017, Philanthropic Writer, Women’ s Shelter Foundation, Turkey. -Authored "Absolute Happiness" (http://tinyurl.com/33djbnkw) sold in ten countries, with proceeds donated to the foundation. -Achievement: Received Certificate of Appreciation from the Women’s Shelter Foundation.