Yudum and Tohum Association Enter into Cooperation

Yudum and Tohum Derneği Establish Collaboration

 

Yudum and Tohum Derneği collaboration and Thrace Agricultural Research Institute Directorate technical support launched the ''Local Sunflower Seed Support Social Responsibility Project''. The project, which represents a milestone in developing high-yield local seeds and increasing diversity, conducted its first harvest on 16 September Thursday in Muratli, Tekirdağ.

 

The event was attended by Tohum Derneği Board of Directors Chairman Musa Kaya, Savola Gıda Türkiye General Manager Houmer Balazadeh, Thrace Agricultural Research Institute Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adnan TÜLEK, FAO Turkey Deputy Representative Dr. Ayşegül Selışık and Vegetable Oil Manufacturers Association Board of Directors Chairman Tahir Büyükhelvacıgil along with public and industry representatives and farmers.

Within the framework of the project, the aim is to develop local sunflower seeds in Turkey and obtain high-quality local varieties that will enable the country to have a say in global markets in terms of yield and quality. Additionally, farmers engaged in sunflower cultivation are being provided with training, extension services and technical implementation support.

   

Products from a total of 10 local seed varieties—comprising 2 registered varieties, 2 production-authorized varieties and 6 candidate varieties—sown in three different trial fields established in Muratli, Tekirdağ, Keşan, Edirne and Silivri, Istanbul in May, were harvested.

Testing of 10 Sunflower Candidate Seed Varieties Conducted

Tohum Derneği Board of Directors Chairman Musa Kaya, delivering the opening remarks of the event, stated: "While we continuously strive to develop projects that support nature, the environment, agriculture and farmers, we found common ground with Yudum, which started out with similar objectives. The 'Local Sunflower Seed Support Social Responsibility Project' came to fruition after we met Yudum.

 

Within the scope of the project, we initially provided seed support to pioneer farmers, established a farmer network and conducted training on sunflower cultivation. Subsequently, we tested 10 candidate sunflower seed varieties on 3 of our fields."

 

Savola Gıda Türkiye General Manager Houmer Balazadeh: "Our objective is clear: to increase capacity in domestic production with local seeds and sustain this momentum by supporting our farmers in every respect. Through the Local Sunflower Seed Support Social Responsibility Project, we will contribute to the development of local sunflower seeds in Turkey and to having a voice in global markets in terms of yield and quality," he said.

FAO Turkey Deputy Representative Dr. Ayşegül Selışık: "If food systems are transformed, particularly by being made more resilient to the climate change factor, affordable and healthy food can be provided in a sustainable and inclusive manner and can become a powerful factor in ending all forms of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition," she said.

Oil Seeds Should Be Declared 'Strategic Product'

Vegetable Oil Manufacturers Association Board of Directors Chairman Tahir Büyükhelvacıgil, noting that the European Union and Turkey account for 55 percent of global sunflower seed imports, stated: "Oil seeds and their derivatives constitute one of the largest import items among basic foodstuffs. We are highly dependent on imports for raw materials in oil seeds.

 

Our country has exceeded the critical threshold in terms of foreign dependence on vegetable oil. As a nation, we are unfortunately paying out approximately USD 3.5 to 4 billion to foreign suppliers. If this continues, by 2030 we will be forced to pay USD 16 to 18 billion abroad to import oil seeds."

Büyükhelvacıgil continued: "We believe that increasing domestic production will be the most important step to resolving this problem. As a nation, we must increase our arable land and launch a production mobilization campaign through policies that enable our farmers to produce. Sunflower, in particular, is of great importance in terms of its adaptation to Turkey's flora and being a product our farmers know best. We must develop local seeds to achieve the highest productivity suitable for our regions.

 

This project, the first fruits of which we will harvest today, is of great importance for this purpose. In this context, I extend my gratitude to the Yudum family, Tohum Derneği, the staff of the Thrace Agricultural Research Institute Directorate, and our farmers who made it possible for us to conduct this harvest for implementing the 'Local Sunflower Seed Support Social Responsibility Project'," he said.