The Workshop on Future Agriculture on the Axis of Climate Change was held in Antalya with the joint work of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Seed Growers Sub-association.
In the session to be held on Tuesday, December 21, Dr. Bekir Pakdemirli, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Turkey, Hacı Ömer Güler, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Seed Growers' Sub-association, Mehmet Hasdemir, General Manager of the General Directorate of Crop Production (BÜGEM) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Prof. Dr. Levent Kurnaz, Director of Boğaziçi University Climate Change and Policies Application and Research Center, Prof. Dr. Levent Kurnaz, Director of Boğaziçi University Climate Change and Policies Application and Research Center, Tabit Smart Agricultural Technologies Inc. Prof. Dr. Levent Kurnaz, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tabit Smart Agricultural Technologies Inc. Coşkun Yıldırım, Chairman of Kop Youth Association Ahmet Katıksız, Head of the Department of Seed Production at BÜGEM Sezgin Karadeniz also took part.
Farming is the most important profession!
At the workshop held in Belek Tourism Center in Serik district of Antalya, Coşkun Yıldırım, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tabit, emphasized that technology should be supported by the right information and experts, that global food security and access to food will become more difficult, and that we should grow with the work of our farmers and business people, and emphasized that farming is the most important profession!
In his speech, Yıldırım shared how technology-supported agricultural production can increase the productivity and profitability of farmers.
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli stated that the average temperature of the world has increased by 1.1 degrees since the industrial revolution; "With this temperature increase, unprecedented disasters and serious changes in the water cycle are experienced. Agricultural yields are expected to decrease by 10 to 25 percent by 2050 due to climate change. All these data show us that agriculture, food, water and forests are the areas that will be most affected by climate change. In order to meet the food needs of the world population in 2050, we have to produce 60 percent more than today and use 15 percent more water for this production. We have come to a point with the increase in the quality of the right seed. These developments and future projections make it inevitable to create a sustainable production structure on the basis of green economy as well as self-sufficiency."
Those who do not protect their seeds will not be able to play a role in the future
Pointing out that Turkey is one of the countries that will experience the effects of climate change the most due to its location in the Mediterranean basin, Minister Pakdemirli stated that as a ministry, they put forward all their policies by taking these developments into account.
Stating that seed is the story of life and the expression of sustainability, Minister Pakdemirli said: "Soil is the body of the earth, and agriculture is the most beautiful green dress worn by this body. This green dress is decorated with all shades of color from the red of apple, orange of orange, purple of eggplant, yellow of quince. The seed is the first button of this dress. If we button this button incorrectly, there is no point in buttoning the other buttons. Those who do not have seed to sow today will not be able to play a role in the future, seed is the most valuable treasure of agriculture, light in weight and heavy in cost."
Governor Ersin Yazıcı, who started his speech by welcoming everyone to Antalya, the capital of tourism, to discuss the future of Turkish agriculture and seed production, said: "Our workshop will take Turkish agriculture and especially seed production a few steps further. Antalya, the capital of tourism, is a city that meets approximately one third of the income of Turkish tourism with 680 thousand beds. As famous as Antalya is for its tourism, it is also an ancient agricultural city equally famous for its agriculture. It is the leader in Turkey in greenhouse production. We send you the vegetables and fruits consumed in every season from Antalya, Kumluca, Aksu and Serik."
Stating that the farmers in Antalya do their work in a very modern and beautiful way, Governor Yazıcı said; "We trust our farmers. We also have a say in seed production. Turkey's largest seed companies are located in this city. We have world-class seed companies that will carry Turkish agriculture forward. Together, we will continue to move both tourism and agriculture towards great goals."
Following the workshop, Governor Ersin Yazıcı and Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli visited Farminova Plant Factory, which is Europe's largest working vertical plant factory operating in Antalya Organized Industrial Zone, producing plants 365 days a year without the need for soil and sun. Can Hakan Karaca, Chairman of the Board of Directors, stated that the products produced in the Farminova Plant Factory with drug-free green technology are offered to consumers in a way that can be eaten without washing.
