The project titled "Investigation of Grayanotoxin Levels in Honey Produced in the Western Black Sea Region" by Oktay Bıyıklıoğlu, a PhD student in the Biology Department of the Faculty of Science at Kastamonu University, has been awarded support under the TÜBİTAK 1002–Rapid Support Program. 

With her project, Bıyıklıoğlu aims to produce scientific data on the safety and quality of honey, one of the region's main agricultural products. TÜBİTAK will support the project with a budget of 100,000 TL for a duration of 12 months, and Prof. Dr. Talip Çeter, Dean of the Faculty of Science, will supervise its conduct. 

Within the scope of the study, researchers will thoroughly analyze honeys produced in areas with dense populations of Rhododendron (komar) in terms of both palynological (pollen structure) and grayanotoxin content. 

Due to its medicinal properties, this type of honey, known among the public as "mad honey/ andromedotoxine," can lead to serious health problems and even death when consumed excessively. The project aims to identify the risks posed by mad honey, which can be mistakenly consumed in excess when mixed with chestnut honey, and to evaluate the impact of this situation on food safety, considering that chestnut honey is one of the economically valuable products of the Western Black Sea region.

The research will result in a systematic comparison of rhododendron pollen numbers and grayanotoxin levels for the first time. Thus, the safe consumption limits of mad honey will be more clearly defined, and the reliability of chestnut honey will be established in light of scientific data. 

Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, congratulated the research team involved in the project and thanked them for their contributions to the scientific research potential of our University. He also expressed his gratitude to the President of the Council of Higher Education, Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, and the members of YÖK, as well as to the President of TÜBİTAK, Prof. Dr. Orhan Aydın, for their encouraging contributions to scientific studies. The project, which aims to protect the health of the local population and contribute to the sustainability of beekeeping in the Western Black Sea region, serves as a concrete example of our University's efforts towards regional development and our country's academic productivity, in line with our identity as a University specializing in forestry and nature tourism.