Established in 2009, Trakya Development Agency (TRAKYAKA) is the statutory regional development authority for the TR21 Thrace Region — encompassing the provinces of Tekirdag, Edirne, and Kirklareli. Strategically positioned at Turkey’s westernmost tip, bordering EU member states Bulgaria and Greece, the Thrace Region serves as a vital bridge between Turkey and Europe.
Its economy is grounded in agriculture and manufacturing, with agricultural production spread across the region and a strong industrial corridor along the Corlu-Cerkezkoy-Luleburgaz axis. Since its foundation, TRAKYAKA has played a central role in the socio-economic development of the region — supporting public institutions, the private sector, universities, and civil society organisations through planning, programming, and coordination across key sectors including agriculture, food, tourism, industry, technology, entrepreneurship, and logistics.
The agency maintains Investment Support Offices in all three provinces and delivers services in five languages, reflecting its strong international and cross-border orientation.
Within ADAPTAGRI, TRAKYAKA coordinates the overall project implementation, ensuring efficient management, communication, and compliance with Interreg NEXT guidelines. Its Agricultural and Rural Development Unit leads pilot implementations in the TR21 Region, bringing deep institutional knowledge of rural innovation, smart agriculture, and regional policy to the partnership.
A central element of ADAPTAGRI’s work in the Thrace Region is the smart farming pilot application coordinated directly by TRAKYAKA. Conducted within the TR21 Region, this on-the-ground demonstration leverages drone technology to promote smart and sustainable agricultural practices — delivering practical innovations in water and input-use optimisation, yield forecasting, and in-field crop monitoring. This pilot serves as a replicable model for climate-adaptive farming across the Black Sea Basin.
As Lead Partner, TRAKYAKA is uniquely positioned to translate the outcomes of ADAPTAGRI — developed over an 18-month project lifecycle with a total budget of 513,814 Euro, co-financed under the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme — into actionable regional strategies, reinforcing the Thrace Region’s role as a model of sustainable, cross-border development.
