Operating in Şanlıurfa and contributing to agriculture of Şanlıurfa and neighboring provinces, GAP Agricultural Research Institute was emerged as a combination of two rooted institutions namely Southeastern Anatolia Training Extension and Research Institute that carry on activities in Akçakale district and Şanlıurfa Soil and Water Resources and Agricultural Research Institute. One of these institutes, Şanlıurfa Soil and Water Resources and Agricultural Research Institute started its activities in 1976s.

In the process until the merger, the our institute served agriculture under the names of GAP Soil and Water Resources and Agricultural Research Institute, Şanlıurfa Soil and Water Resources and Agricultural Research Institute,  Şanlıurfa Rural Services Research Institute and Urfa Region Soil and Water Research Institute. Our other institute, Southeastern Anatolia Training Extension and Research Institute, in the merger contributed to agriculture since 1977s. It carried out activities formerly under the names of the Pasture and Forage Crops Seed Production Center Institute, Irrigation Techniques Research Institute, Akçakale Agricultural Research Institute and Harran Agricultural Research Institute.

Our directorate serves as region research institute with 70 technical staff in provinces of Gaziantep, Kilis, Adıyaman, Şanlıurfa, Mardin, Şırnak, Diyarbakır, Siirt and Batman which are duty areas officially and  in agricultural sector.​