About Us

Zeytince Association for Supporting Ecological Living  (Zeytince EYDD)  is a  no profit, civil society organization established in 2012 in the Karaburun Peninsula, Izmir, Türkiye. The association aims to promote nature-friendly lifestyles, ecological literacy, and support sustainable rural development through education, advocacy, and community-based initiatives in the Izmir region. Through its workshops, field visits,  projects and education/research programs, Zeytince supports the development of sustainable olive and olive oil production while contributing to the conservation and promotion of the region’s unique natural and cultural heritage.

Zeytince carries out trainings, awareness campaigns, and research activities to promote sustainability and local knowledge in the Mediterranean context. Zeytince Association has a school building in the Karaburun Peninsula, operating under the name Olive  Academy. The Academy serves as  (1) as an information and advisory center for visitors, hikers, and cyclists traveling along the Ephesus–Mimas Cultural Route and the Olive Route in Karaburun. The 151-kilometer-long Olive Route, which passes through six districts, was established in 2015 by Zeytince Association in collaboration with the Metropolitan Municipality. (2) Also serves as  an ecological education center, which provides protection of natural, cultural and industrial assets, especially olive and olive products, and assists in fostering opportunities for employment and income generation based on these assets.

Zeytince is  dedicated to cultivating education for sustainable living across the region. It delivers Ecological Literacy Trainings to both adults and students and coordinates various capacity-building programs.  Zeytince,  has developed and conducted specialized training activities for olive and olive oil producers based in the Karaburun region, focusing on sustainable cultivation techniques, local varieties, and traditional practices.

Zeytince has been a partner in numerous national and international projects. In recent years, it has created significant local and regional impact through international  projects such as Horizon  2020 Project PSLifestyle (Horizon 2020-LC-GD-2020)-,  Horizon Like a Pro Project (Horizon-CL6-2022-FARM2FORK-01-07), and POMACE Project (Creative Industries Fund NL). The association has established a strong network of collaboration with Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, local administrations, universities, public institutions, and various civil society organizations.

Another expertise of Zeytince involves multi-stakeholder engagement. The association is one of the lead partners of the “City Coalition” of local stakeholders who collaboratively work to make Izmir a greener, low-carbon, and climate-resilient city.