Turkey's Food Industry Reached Approximately $160 Billion in Volume in 2024

Kaan Sidar, Managing Director of the Turkish Food Industry Employers' Association (TÜGİS), provided an assessment of 2024. Sidar stated that TÜGİS conducted pioneering work throughout the year on the importance of ethical principles in production, fair food distribution, and prevention of food waste, noting that Turkey's food industry concluded a successful year despite numerous challenges.

Kaan Sidar, Managing Director of the Turkish Food Industry Employers' Association (TÜGİS), stated that they carried out pioneering initiatives in 2024 aimed at fair food distribution and preventing food waste, saying, "Global climate change continued to affect productivity in 2024. Through our Food Ethics Seminar, Sustainable Food Summit, and webinars, we brought together representatives of the food ecosystem to seek solutions to sector problems. As one of the leading representatives of next-generation active employer unionism, we conducted negotiation processes representing our members in 18 collective labour agreements."

Sidar also noted that despite climate crisis, high global interest rates, and geopolitical tensions, Turkey's food industry reached approximately USD 160 billion in volume in 2024.

"Climate change continued to affect productivity"
In his assessment, Kaan Sidar recalled that the food sector concluded a year under economic difficulties and negative climate conditions affecting agriculture, stating, "Global warming continues to cause fluctuations in agricultural productivity in the world and our country. FAO data also reveals that climate-related yield losses create upward pressure on food prices. On the other hand, the supply chain recovery that began in 2023 continued partially in 2024. However, we observe that high interest rates and geopolitical tensions globally have increased investment costs and limited new investments in agricultural production and the food industry."

Exports approaching USD 25 billion
Noting that Turkey maintains export potential despite global challenges through its wide product range and strategic location, Kaan Sidar emphasized that branding efforts from local to global contribute to the food sector's competitive strength. Sidar stated, "The food sector, which closed 2024 with exports approaching USD 25 billion, once again demonstrated that it is one of the leading actors in Turkey's economy. In the period ahead, the food sector needs investment incentives to capture technological innovations, expand its current production capacity, and further strengthen its competitive position in international markets. Of course, financing support on favourable terms is also necessary. At this point, we would like to once again emphasize the importance of our central government continuing its incentive support."

"We conducted joint work with food ecosystem representatives"
Expressing that TÜGİS has been pioneering in projects aimed at fair food distribution and preventing waste, Sidar stated, "Ensuring sustainability at every stage of the food chain from farm to table is vital for future generations' access to a safe and fair food system. Through events we organized throughout the year, we met with representatives of the food ecosystem. Through our Food Ethics Seminar, Sustainable Food Summit, and webinars, we brought together food ecosystem representatives to seek solutions to sector problems."

"We will continue fighting misinformation"
Sidar also noted that they will continue efforts to convey scientific facts about food directly to consumers and combat unfounded posts circulated especially on social media, saying, "We will continue the work we conducted in 2024 through the TÜGİS Science Board this year. We believe that consumers being informed about product contents, processing technologies, packaging and storage will enable them to make informed purchasing choices and not give credence to misleading posts."

"We are the sector's active solution partner"
TÜGİS Managing Director Kaan Sidar also emphasized that as one of the leading representatives of next-generation active employer unionism, they play an active role in resolving sector problems through constructive dialogue between workers, employers and the public, and solution-focused discussions. Noting that they participate in collective labour agreement processes of leading food industry companies, Sidar stated that through visits to Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Ministries, they consult on the current situation of the food industry and communicate the sector's problems.

"We drew attention to the counterfeiting and adulteration problem"
Noting that they frequently emphasize the importance of sustainable production, ethical principles, and consumer health in the sector, Sidar stated, "The counterfeit and adulteration problem in food production demonstrates that financial concerns and insufficient inspections create a direct threat to human health and the environment. For this reason, we emphasized that both the public and private sector must maintain their determination on the deterrent nature of legislation and sanctions."