Istanbul – Türkiye’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, İbrahim Yumaklı, announced Türkiye’s growing prominence in the global agricultural sector during the World Seed Congress held in Istanbul and organized by the International Seed Federation (ISF).
In his keynote speech, Yumaklı highlighted that Türkiye is now among the top 8 countries globally in agricultural output and ranks in the top 3 in the export of 8 major agricultural products. Central to this success is the dynamic growth of its seed industry.
“Today, Türkiye exports seeds to 103 countries. This is a clear indication of our sector’s strength, self-sufficiency, and international competitiveness,” said Yumaklı.
Seed Exports Reach 340 Million USD
Türkiye’s seed sector has seen a remarkable transformation in the last two decades, driven by government support, innovation, and a focus on sustainability. Yumaklı shared the following milestones:
- The number of seed companies in Türkiye has reached 1,117, with 94% being domestic.
- Certified seed production has increased 9 times, now totaling 1.3 million tons.
- Certified seedling and sapling production has soared 46 times, reaching 186 million units.
- Through the Heritage Seed Project, 49 local varieties have been registered and protected.
- 79 drought-resistant and 3 frost-resistant seed varieties have been developed for farmers.
- Two national gene banks are currently preserving around 122,000 seed specimens.
These advancements have enabled Türkiye to become a reliable seed supplier for countries in need, bringing seed export revenues to 340 million USD as of today.
Agriculture in the Face of Global Risks
Minister Yumaklı stressed that recent global challenges—such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, economic crises, and regional conflicts—have made agricultural production a critical strategic issue. He pointed out that many countries are adopting more nationalistic approaches to food production and seed sovereignty.
“The new normal requires us to focus on four key areas: sustainable production, technological integration, R&D for quality and efficiency, and empowering family-run farms,” Yumaklı stated.
Strategic Vision for Seed Development
At the 4th Agriculture and Forestry Council, Türkiye identified five main goals and 48 strategic actions—27 of them short-term—to further develop the seed sector. These include:
- Enhancing seed health testing infrastructure
- Increasing the use and production of certified seeds
- Preventing the sale of uncertified seeds
- Classifying seed enterprises as industrial entities
- Promoting high-local-content seed development
