TGDF Women's Platform Launched

TGDF Women's Platform Established At a meeting held on 8 March with the participation of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, TGDF Federation President Demir Şarman announced the establishment of the TGDF Women's Platform. 8 March, celebrated worldwide as International Women's Day, marked the launch of a new initiative for working women in Turkey this year. Demir Şarman, President of the Turkish Food and Beverage Industries Associations Federation (TGDF), announced the establishment of the TGDF Women's Platform at a meeting themed "Women in the Agri-Food Chain."

Leading Women from Agriculture and Food Sector Spoke

The meeting featured Viorel Gutu, FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator for Central Asia and FAO Representative to Turkey, Ayşegül Selışık, Assistant FAO Representative to Turkey, Godiva CEO Nurtaç Ziyal Afiridi, along with representatives from agricultural cooperatives and the food and beverage sector. The meeting was moderated by Nurdan Erbuğ, Chairman of the Board of Anadolu Hayvancılık and one of Turkey's leading women entrepreneurs.

"Women's Representation in the Sector Must Increase for Sustainability"

Opening remarks were made by TGDF President Demir Şarman and FAO Representative to Turkey Viorel Gutu. In his speech, Şarman emphasized the importance of women throughout the entire food chain. Stating that the Women's Platform established under the TGDF umbrella will contribute to a sustainable future by increasing women's representation in the sector, Şarman called for active participation in the platform by the audience.

FAO Will Support "TGDF Women's Platform"

FAO Representative to Turkey Viorel Gutu spoke in his opening remarks about the negative effects of gender inequality. Drawing attention to the relationship between the Sustainable Development Goals of "No Poverty" and "Zero Hunger" and "Gender Equality," Gutu called for cooperation to enhance the self-sufficiency of women in agriculture and the food sector. Noting that the TGDF Women's Platform is a timely and much-needed initiative, the FAO Representative to Turkey added that they will provide the necessary support to the platform within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between FAO and TGDF last year. During the meeting, the role of women in the process from soil to table was highlighted. Speakers emphasized that equal representation of women, who make up half the population, in production is essential for a sustainable future, and noted that the step taken with the TGDF Women's Platform will serve as a guide not only in Turkey's food chain but also in many other national and international fields. Demir Şarman, elected President at TGDF's General Assembly held last January, fulfilled his promise to establish the TGDF Women's Platform in a short timeframe. The platform within the Federation aims to support all women working at every level of the agri-food chain, to clearly voice their concerns, and to develop solutions quickly.