The second conference of the Journey of the Fig in the Mediterranean series entitled “The Market and Ecology of Figs” was held on 26 May 2018 at the Ahmed Adnan Saygun Art Center.

The conference was moderated by Professor Alp Yücel Kaya with participation by Dr. Derya Nizam, Bilge Keykubat and Dr. Sunay Dağ.

In her presentation, Derya Nizam explained the characteristics distinguishing between the Aegean fig and the Aydın fig, which are two geographical marks, and discussed the ways of the reproduction of both ecological and cultural borders. Nizam emphasized that geographical mark registrations need to form solidarity networks instead of generating inter-regional competition.

Bilge Keykubat [of the Izmir Stock Exchange] pointed out that dried figs had been an object of attraction in every age and an important commodity for the country: “Figs fill our sight with their appearance, our spirits with its philosophy, our pockets with its income. Its quality concerns all sectors in domestic and international markets.”

Dr. Sunay Dağ shared the conclusions of her doctoral research about the impact of geothermal power plants that proliferate in the Aydın Germencik region, where the highest quality dried fig farming is practiced, on the productivity and quality of fig farming.