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Organised by the Turkish Seed Union (TÜRKTOB) in cooperation with Ankara University Faculty of Agriculture and with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the 8th International Seed Congress was held in Antalya between 9-12 December.
The congress was held in 3 different halls with the participation of invited speakers from more than 20 countries, nearly 100 oral presentations, 30 poster presentations and approximately 1700 sector representatives.
The opening speech of the congress was made by Hacı Ömer Güler, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Turkish Seed Union (TÜRKTOB).
TÜRKTOB President Hacı Ömer Güler evaluated the achievements and targets of the sector. Güler stated that he believes that the congress will carry the Turkish seed sector to a stronger position in the global arena.
Güler stated that the congress is not only an academic meeting, but also a global platform that shapes the future of the sector.
Great Success in Certified Seed Production
Güler stated that certified seed production has doubled in the last 10 years and reached 1 million 300 thousand tonnes and that the production of seedlings, saplings and ornamental plants has increased every year. Emphasising that the Turkish seed sector today exports seeds, seedlings and ornamental plants to 130 countries, Güler said: ‘We export seeds worth 327 million dollars, seedlings worth 32 million dollars and ornamental plants worth 113 million dollars. With an export volume of approximately 500 million dollars, we have reached a sector with an export-to-import ratio of 147 per cent, from a sector that imported three times its exports 20 years ago.’
Strong Cooperation of Public and Private Sector
Drawing attention to the importance of public-private sector cooperation in the development of the seed sector, Güler said that 40 per cent of the certified seeds produced in Turkiye are developed by the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM) and multiplied by the General Directorate of Agricultural Enterprises (TİGEM). Güler said, ‘We are further strengthening our sector with our distinguished institutions such as TAGEM and TİGEM.’
Turkish Seed Sector Has a Say in the Global Arena
Referring to the international success of the Turkish seed sector, Güler announced that the World Seed Congress will be held in Istanbul in 2025 and the Asia Pacific Seed Congress will be held in Antalya in 2026. He said that these organisations prove the global power of Turkish agriculture and seed production.
‘’Antalya is Turkiye's Flagship in the Seed Sector‘’
Emphasising the importance of Antalya in the field of agriculture and seed production, Antalya Governor Hulusi Şahin said: ‘Antalya, which is the flagship of Turkiye in agriculture and tourism sectors, is also the flagship of Turkiye in the seed production sector. Agriculture is a huge sector that needs to be done entirely with technology and knowledge, requiring serious capital, but with an equally high return. As a country, we have a national income of two trillion dollars and foreign trade targets of one trillion dollars. I believe that we will reach these targets quickly. For this, every sector has its own duties. The agricultural sector is also capable of doing its part in this regard. Turkish agriculture and Turkish seed production have the infrastructure and opportunities to reach even more advanced points. Antalya is also an important centre in this regard.’
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı: We Always Prioritise Policies for Our Seed Sector
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı said in his speech that the importance of seed continues to increase.
Pointing out that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has established important policies for seeds, Yumaklı said, ‘We always prioritise policies for our seed sector in order to protect the future of agricultural production. In the last 22 years, we have carried out important works especially the necessary legislation, to increase the competitiveness of the sector in the national and international arena. We provide support to the sector in many areas from grants to credit support and investment projects. With our efforts, we have increased production in species where domestic seed is insufficient, and we have tried to achieve the most advanced standards in terms of yield and quality.’
Minister Yumaklı noted that they have carried out appropriate breeding programmes in conditions such as drought, salinity, low temperature and excessive rainfall due to climate change, and in this context, 79 varieties have been registered so far and an increase of approximately 20 percent in production has been achieved.
Stating that as a result of the studies, they have become able to produce 97 percent of every 100 kilograms of seed used in the country domestically, Yumaklı said that they have increased seed production from 145 thousand tonnes to 1.3 million tonnes in the last 22 years.
Yumaklı said, ‘Our sector exported the seeds we produced to 117 countries and contributed approximately 500 million dollars to the national economy.’
TİGEM and Private Sector to Launch ‘Joint Production Model’ in Seed
Minister Yumaklı explained that they developed a model to develop seed production between the General Directorate of Agricultural Enterprises (TİGEM) and the private sector, and said: ‘We will initiate a joint production model between TİGEM and private sector seed producers for the seeds that our country needs in order to develop domestic and national seed production. With this model, we want to combine TİGEM's large land power, machinery and equipment park and experience with the dynamism of the private sector.’
Cooperation Protocol between TAGEM and TÜRKTOB
Stating that a cooperation protocol will be signed between the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM) and TÜRKTOB, Yumaklı continued as follows:
‘With this protocol, we aim to further develop seed technologies and R&D activities. We aim for closer co-operation on what can be done to encourage the sector and ensure that it moves forward. Again, by developing joint projects, we aim to produce innovative and sustainable solutions especially in the sector. Hopefully, this protocol will make an important contribution to the development and acceleration of the sector.’
Yumaklı stated that the domestic sugar beet seeds developed by TÜKŞEKER have been registered and will be offered to the service of producers in future productions.
Following the speeches, Hacı Ömer Güler, Chairman of the Board of Directors of TÜRKTOB, and Dr. Mustafa Altuğ Atalay, Director General of TAGEM, signed a protocol on the development of cooperation between the two institutions in agricultural R&D.
On the first day of the workshop, Congress President Prof. Dr. Hayrettin Kendir, Deputy General Director of Crop Production Cengiz Budan and General Director of Agricultural Research and Policies Dr. Mustafa Altuğ Atalay made speeches on the importance of the congress and the seed sector, research and development (R&D), production and support policies of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
The congress continued with panels, sessions and presentations.