Besler R&D Center Launches 59 New Projects

Besler R&D Centre Presents Innovative Solutions to the Oil and Food Sector with 59 Different Projects and Innovation Investments Developed in 2020 Besler, positioned as a leading oil producer across all its business lines including consumer products, industrial and export operations, is also pioneering R&D work in the oil sector. At the Besler R&D Centre, which received the R&D Centre certificate from the Turkish Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology in 2016, Besler is conducting innovation projects coordinated with both public and private sector stakeholders, shaping the future not only of the oil sector but also of the food industry.

Industry Firsts in Food

Many innovations that have been firsts in their respective areas in the food sector have been brought to life through work at the Besler R&D Centre and presented to consumers for approval. Among the products developed to provide consumers with ease of use and taste together are Teremyağ, preferred for its unique butter flavour, Teremyağ Gurme Kaymaklı combining cream and oil, Teremyağ the only liquid margarine on the market, and Luna Tereyağlı combining vegetable oil with butter flavour, leading among the Centre's recent innovative products. The Besler R&D Centre, also focusing on imported value-added products, is bringing many innovations to the industrial category with cocoa butter equivalent (CBE, CBI) products, chocolate and coating oils, special filling cream oils, and high-quality trans-fat-free CBR oil (Cocoa Butter Replacer) products. Through its advanced technology and specially developed product formulations, Besler is also positioned as the first company in the sector with its entire product portfolio free of trans fats.

59 Projects Implemented

In 2020, 59 projects were implemented at the Besler R&D Centre, focusing on reducing resource consumption and targeting sustainable production. In addition to work conducted with Besler's own resources, there are 7 projects in total supported by TUBITAK-TEYDEB and the Ministry of Agriculture, one of which is from the European Union. 6 of these projects have been successfully completed, and work on 1 project is ongoing. The Besler R&D Centre, the largest of its kind in Turkey with its technological infrastructure, qualified team and superior service capacity, develops project-based products for its customers through the EDT channel while also serving the product development processes of established industry player Marsa. Providing fast and on-site solutions to its customers, the Besler R&D Centre offers facilities such as workshop work on chocolate products, filling creams, coated and moulded products through its in-house application laboratories, and performance studies on pastry and bakery products with master craftspeople are also conducted at the Centre.

Meeting the Sector's Oil Needs

Noting that with the pandemic, nearly all countries have made investments to meet their food self-sufficiency needs for finished or intermediate products, Kerevitaş Oil Business Unit CEO Şükrü Çin emphasized the Centre's contribution to the economy, stating: "For years we have been working to provide value-added products to the sector. Our country is positioned as the region's most important food production centre. Oil is one of the most essential components in nearly every type of food production, and all food production processes require oil. Besler continues to create significant added value for industry and the economy in the production of processed and specially formulated oils," he said. Emphasizing that the R&D work conducted will make Turkish companies more competitive in exports, Şükrü Çin said: "With the investments we are making in this field, we become a solution partner with more competitive prices for the food sector's need for quality oils."