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Turkey's successful fight against the new coronavirus, along with the hesitations or supply disruptions on purchases from countries hit hard by the pandemic, has stren gthened the brand image of Turkish food. As a result, orders from Asian and European purchasing groups have significantly increased – up to 100% in some product categories, sector representatives said. Many purchasing groups from Asia to Europe shifted their orders to Turkey, especially for products like packaged food. Turkey Food and Beverage Industry Associations Federation Vice Chairman Rint Akyüz said they expect food exports to reach $20 billion this year. The bestselling products during this period were ketchup, various kinds of sauce and tomato paste in particular. Turkish tomato paste producers, which rank fourth after America, China, Spain and Italy, have seen orders increase significantly. Sector representatives believe Turkey has emerged as a reliable alternative. Even Asian buyers now have he...

Sibel Silici, Professor of Agricultural Biotechnology, Erciyas University (ERÜ), who has been working on propolis for 27 years in Kayseri and has won many international awards for his studies, published her works as a book. Professor Dr. Sibel Silici said that other bee products, especially propolis, have immune system regulating and stimulating effects. Not improving immune system but regulating... Stating that bee products provide protection against both bacterial and viral infections with this aspect. Dr. Silici said, "The immune system means immunity in medical language, the foreign body and microorganisms that enter our body from all the mechanisms. It is an immune system that we will strengthen with factors such as acquired immunity, healthy nutrition, sports, quality sleep." Emphasizing that propolis has a stimulating and regulatory effect on the immune system, Dr. Silici noted, "It is wrong to say that it increases the immune system because sometimes t...

The yield and quality of dried figs will be increased by trainings on social media... In order to increase the quality of paradise dried figs, sample applications will be made in sample gardens... Mycotoxin formation is the most important factor that negatively affects dried fig exports and causes it to come back from the countries to which it is exported. In order to prevent this formation and to minimize the problem, meetings will be organized with the producers to raise awareness through social media applications. Dried Figs Board, operating under the coordination of Aegean Dried Fruits and Products Exporters' Association, held an online meeting during the pandemic process within the scope of producing and exporting more quality products on which Turkey ranks first. During the meeting, measures to be taken towards solutions were discussed in order not to increase the frequency of controls of aflatoxin and ochratoxin in European Union, the largest export market of Tu...

Turkey's milk production up over 6% in Q1 of 2020... Country's statistical authority says milk collected by integrated dairies totaled nearly 2.5M tons Turkey's cow milk production rose by 6.3% year-on-year in January-March, the country's statistical authority said on Tuesday. TurkStat (TÜİK) said in a statement that the amount of cow milk collected by the integrated dairies was 2.48 million tons in the first quarter of this year. Official figures showed that drinking milk production also saw an annual rise in January-March -- up 11.3% to 422,076 tons. In first three months of this year, Turkey produced 184,038 tons of cheese, 98% of which was made from cow milk as the rest was produced from sheep, goat, buffalo and mixed milk. Yogurt production by integrated dairies increased by 3.8% to 272,535 tons during the same period. Production of the salty yogurt drink, ayran, came up at 154,266 tons, decreasing 2.5% compared to the same quarter of last year...

In the corona days, where the importance of agriculture, animal husbandry and food supply were better understood all over the world, the eyes were turned into successful entrepreneurs in this field. Funda Özer Baltalı, who started her career as a banker after Robert College and her law education and then returned to his business life as a mother, was one of them. Baltalı Gıda (Food), got started in 2008 and located in Seferihisar district of Izmir province, solely produces goat milk and its products. Funda Özer Baltalı who provides the milk from goats in her own farm explained: “We have a special high-breed of goats. Our goats are grown in the healthiest conditions, under the supervision of specialists, by making all the controls. It has the necessary international certificates in terms of food safety. We also work on product development for allergic children and adults in cooperation with universities. Our product range, where we use 100 percent goat milk, includes daily...

Press release... agROBOfood is offering 2.65 M€ to SMEs through its’ 1 st Open Call for Innovation Experiments! agROBOfood is a Horizon 2020 project aiming to build a European ecosystem for the effective adoption of robotic technologies in the agrifood sector and to support SMEs become more efficient and competitive. agROBOfood connects the world of Robotics, Agriculture, R&D and business by creating a sustainable network of Digital Innovation Hubs. The network already counts 49 Digital Innovation Hubs and 12 Competence Centers, established in 7 Regional Clusters around Europe, which will support companies in digitization by connecting various stakeholders. The heart of the project is formed by Innovation Experiments, organized and monitored by the Digital Innovation Hubs. In the Regional Clusters, Initial Innovation Experiments will demonstrate robotics innovations in agri-food, in a manner that ensures replicability and wide adoption across Europe. agROBOfood, in an at...

The wave of protectionist measures on agricultural goods that emerged as the coronavirus spread around the world has already begun to recede. Of at least 17 countries that sought to limit food exports to protect local supplies, about half have backtracked all or some of the measures, according to a tracker from the International Food Policy Research Institute. That includes several major grain shippers such as Vietnam and Romania, although top wheat exporter Russia has kept its curbs in place. Immediate worries about food shortages have eased in many parts of the world as supply chains continue to flow despite lockdowns. Meanwhile, even short-lived restrictions have resulted in spoiled crops and stranded cargoes. Organizations such as the United Nations have urged against measures that could harm food security and raise prices. Food Hoarding... “There wasn’t really any issue with having tight inventories,” said Abdolreza Abbassian, senior economist at the United Nations’...

Haluk Okutur, Chairman of the Board of Istanbul Grain, Pulses, Oil Seeds and Products Exporters' Association (İHBİR), said that 100 billion dollars for agricultural product exports is not a dream... May 11, 2020, Emphasizing that the world is rapidly moving towards a new era that will take shape over food technologies, İHBİR Chairman Haluk Okutur said, “Processing, packaging, branding and adding our agricultural products that we grow in the fertile lands of this beautiful country and we can have it valuable and make a very important contribution to the export figures of our country. 100 billion dollars in the export of agricultural products is not a dream. Digital agriculture will also put the reverse migration into effect." Stating that regarding the export of agricultural products, Okutur noted, "In particular, new projects and initiatives to be constructed on the positive aspects of the pandemic process which brought to life and thereafter in Turkey's agr...

SALUTE THE FARMERS! NO FARMERS, NO FOOD, NO LIFE...

Turkey’s fruit producers are entering Thailand's $210 million (TL 1.4 billion) apple market, widening their new market opportunities in Asia after beginning exporting cherries to China last year. Exporters who have been in search of new markets and recently opened to East Asia have begun to gradually receive positive feedback, with a permit approved by Thailand being one of the latest examples. China’s approval of cherry imports from Turkey has paved the way for further fruit exports to the Asian market, sector representatives say. Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Chairman Hayrettin Uçak said that officials from Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives have overseen the process and gave approval to Turkish producers, noting that notification on issues such as shipping method, garden requirements, monitoring and packaging systems will be sent separately by the ministry and they will inform Turkish exporters in line with the requirements. Uçak noted t...

Turkey on May 12 announced that tea producers will be allowed to travel to the cities their fields are located in with a special permit as partial restrictions continue in the country. In a statement, the Interior Ministry said that tea producers will be allowed as of May 19 midnight following the lifting of a four-day partial curfew. The ministry added that those tea producers, who were given travel permission, have made a commitment to staying only in the designated areas for 14 days and to comply with the COVID-19 measures. The long-awaited permission came days before tea harvesting began in Turkey’s tea production provinces. After originating in China last December, COVID-19 has spread to at least 187 countries and regions. Europe and the U.S. are currently the worst-hit regions.

Grain:  World Markets and Trade Approved by the World Agricultural Outlook Board/USDA  May 2020...  Record Corn, Wheat and Rice Crops Build Stocks in 2020/21  Global corn production in 2020/21 is projected up, primarily driven by a recovery in area for the United States. For major exporters, the United States, Brazil and Ukraine are all projected to have record crops while Argentina has another near-record crop. Global production is forecast to exceed consumption for the first time in 4 years. Both feed and non-feed use are expected to grow under exceptionally low prices, spurring expansion in global trade. Ending stocks are projected up as the United States is set to have the highest ending stocks since 1987/88, offsetting a decline in China. For 2020/21, global wheat production is forecast up with larger crops in most major exporting countries. Production for Argentina, Australia, Canada, Kazakhstan and Russia is forecast higher than the previous yea...

Hen egg output in Turkey decreased 2.8% on a yearly basis to 1.7 billion units in March, the country's statistical authority (TÜİK) reported on Tuesday. The country's chicken meat production rose 9.3% to reach 191,629 tons in the month, TurkStat said. Turkey's meat production also increased 17.2% year-on-year in March, while the number of slaughtered chickens rose 10.5%. The statistical authority will release the next poultry production report on June 11.

Turkey exports flour to 164 countries around the globe, meaning that 90 percent of the world’s population consumes Turkish flour, a top flour industry official told Anadolu Agency Tuesday. Turkey earns over $1 billion from flour exports annually, said Eren Günhan Ulusoy, director of the International Association of Operative Millers (IAOM) Eurasia, as well as head of the Turkish Flour Industrialists' Federation. The power in raw material production will make flour industrialists stronger in the foreign market as well, he said. For the last seven years Turkey has been the biggest flour exporter in the world, he added. "We need to produce more of our own wheat and boost the share of our domestic wheat in our total consumption,” he said. Last year the country's wheat production was 19.5 million tons and this year it is expected to reach 20 million tons, he said.

It has been reported that a new format has been added to the agricultural training and extension activities for farmers, producers and forest villagers under the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) measures. Within the scope of the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) measures, a new format, named Agriculture Forestry Academy, has been added to the agricultural training and extension activities for farmers, producers and forest villagers. The information on the subjects they need to farmers and producers will be delivered through the course videos and training videos to be published on the internet. Emphasizing that farmers can quickly access the information they seek through Agriculture Forestry Academy, Samsun Province Agriculture and Forestry Manager İbrahim Sağlam, in a written statement, said, "This portal started to serve from the addresses of 'akademi.tarimorman.gov.tr' ​and 'www.tarimtv.gov.tr'. The probability of the outbreak in the future shows that ...

Complying with World Health Organization regulation, Turkey is limiting the content of industrially-produced trans fat in food by a new law. According to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on Thursday, the new regulation will enter into force as of Dec. 31, three months before the EU (April 1, 2021). The content of industrially-produced trans fat in food intended for the final consumer and for supply to retail, shall not exceed 2 grams per 100 grams of fat. The move excludes trans fat which is naturally occurring in the fat of animal origin such as in meat or dairy products, the statement said. Industrially-produced trans fats are contained in hardened vegetable fats, such as margarine and ghee, and are often present in snacks, baked foods, and fried foods. The new law will help public health, consumer protection and compatibility with the external market. WHO estimates that every year, trans fat intake leads to more than 500,000 deaths of people ...

Press release... Amid ample food supplies, FAO reveals snarls in distribution during COVID-19 pandemic In Europe and Central Asia, as well as globally, early indications project near-record wheat production and stock levels in 2020. Food supplies for major food commodities are sufficient. Still, logistics disruptions have emerged as a result of measures to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic, challenging food distribution and agricultural production in some countries. All this was revealed in the FAO publication Regional food market situation and policy bulletin in response to the COVID-19 pandemic , which reviews the Europe and Central Asia region. The report provides an overview of the export policies of major regional food exporters amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including Kazakhstan, Russian Federation, Ukraine, and the Eurasian Economic Commission. It also looks at national policy responses aimed at mitigating the pandemic’s impact on food markets and at ensuring sufficient d...

After years of low prices and trade disputes, 2020 was finally supposed to be a better one for U.S. dairy farmers. But now it could be what drives many of them out of business for good. Many hope some government relief will keep them afloat as they dump countless gallons of milk they would have sold to restaurants and schools now shuttered by the coronavirus pandemic . The last several weeks have proven an unexpectedly challenging time for the entire agricultural sector, as the country’s food service supply chain struggles to adjust to life in an unforeseen and unprecedented situation. But dairy farmers have to figure out what to do with their extremely perishable product when about 50% of the industry’s demand from restaurants, school cafeterias, and other food service is cut off. Things were already not easy for dairy farmers going into 2020. The dairy industry was just coming off five years of low prices on milk brought on by stiff global competition. Dairy farmers have ...

Turkey is not expected to face any major problems in its short- or mid-term food supply or food security despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said Thursday. "As one of the major players in the agriculture and food sector, Turkey can be affected by regional or global volatility due to restrictions and price changes," Keigo Obara, the food security officer at the FAO office in the Turkish capital Ankara told Anadolu Agency (AA). The risk, however, exists mainly for underdeveloped countries or those that depend on food imports, he added. "But it is necessary to underline again that global agriculture and food production are closely linked," Obara said. As of May, the food price increase rate among G20 members was 4.1% in the U.S., followed by Canada, China, France and Russia with 3.3%, 3.8%, 3.4% and 3%, respectively, he explained. "In Turkey, the figure stands at 2.7%," he said, adding...

The green pepper, which is produced in Mersin's Tarsus district and known as rich in vitamin C and antioxidant, has become the favourite of exports due to the indispensability of the Russians during the epidemic. Bell pepper exports continue during the epidemic period. Pepper cultivated in the Tarsus district of Mersin province on an area of ​​40 thousand decares is in great demand from the Russian domestic market. Pepper known as rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, having more attraction because of coronavirus and puts a smile on the face of producers, as well as bringing foreign currency in Turkey. Bell peppers are offered for sale at 2.5 TL as Fruit and Veg Hall (market place) prices and in greengrocery at 5 TL. 90 percent to Russia... Stating that Russia's interest in pepper pleases them, Veyis Avcı, Chairman of Tarsus Chamber of Agriculture, said, "We grow peppers in a 30-decare greenhouse. We harvest 10 days apart. We collect with about 20 workers. The aver...

There's a message to consumers from Turkey's largest manufacturer of propolis! 90 percent of propolis sold on the market is fake... Fake honey is hard to find out, now they add maltose... Turkey's largest propolis and bee products brand BEE'O has started a war to correct misconceptions within the scope of honey and bee products. Speaking at Honey Talks organized by the Trusted Product Platform, BEE'O General Manager and Food Engineer Aslı Elif Tanuğur Samancı explained her entry into the bee products industry, the fraud in honey and bee products, the newly issued honey communiqué and the well-known mistakes. Nearly 90 percent of propolis sold on the market is fake...  Aslı Elif Tanuğur Samancı, who has been working on bee products for a long time, made the following important statements about propolis and bee products, which have attracted attention due to their strengthening of the immune system recently: "Products such as propolis and royal...

Press release... May 6, 2020 BASF Corporation will join COVID-19 hunger relief efforts with a $170,000 donation to Feeding America. The company’s North America Agricultural Solutions employees in the U.S. hosted a virtual food drive in March and April to support Feeding America food banks across the country. The contribution will help their food banks secure nutritious food and resources to serve neighbors in need during the pandemic. “Millions of people across the United States are struggling to find nutritious food and provide meals for their families during this unprecedented time,” said Paul Rea, Senior Vice President, BASF Agricultural Solutions North America. “There is no time where the need is more pressing than during and after a crisis of this magnitude. We hope this gift inspires our community to assist Feeding America’s efforts by donating money, goods or their time to help our neighbors, friends and families during their time of need.” BASF employees throughout it...

Hayrettin Uçak, Chairman of Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters' Association, said that necessary measures were taken for seasonal agricultural workers and that there was no problem. Uçak said, "Prices of newly released products are high. With the costs, packaging, workmanship and commission fee, prices are rising necessarily. In the non-seasonal product, it is necessarily sold at a price higher than the market value, but prices return to normal in the season. We had the problem of finding a driver on the motorway in the first days. After lifting of 14 days process, it was resolved. The Ministry of Commerce has created buffer zones and we have survived that process. We are not in trouble. Currently diagnosed with rapid diagnostic kits." Indicating that it is not possible for any vehicle that they do not get an identifier to be on the road, Uçak explained, "According to the law of the Hall, it can be taken to market without getting into the Hall after h...

With the "Local Seed Meetings" project, heirloom local seed varieties, which are in the hands of  farmers, have been taken under protection in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Thanks to this project launched under the auspices of Emine Erdoğan, the wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, 1131 heirloom local seed varieties were collected. The heirloom seeds collected through the "Local Seed Meetings" project, which started in 2017 under the auspices of Emine Erdoğan, are increasing day by day. The project, which started in İzmir, continued with various activities in Samsun and Şanlıurfa. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli said that heirloom local seeds were both protected and reproduced so that unforgettable flavours reached the tables again. In this process, Pakdemirli stated that 1131 heirloom local seed varieties, which are in the hands of people and farmers, were delivered to the Ministry and that half of these seeds were t...

During the fishing season of 2019-20, 6 million 351 thousand 855 dollars of anchovy exports were made. Belgium ranked first with 1 million 824 thousand 311 dollars in foreign sales. Eastern Black Sea Exporters' Association (DKİB) made a compilation of the data and in the hunting season covering the period of September 1, 2091- April 30, 2020, 1 745 tonnes of anchovy was sold to 23 countries from Turkey. 6 million 351 thousand 855 dollars were obtained from the said export. In this period, the highest anchovy export was made to Belgium with 1 million 824 thousand 311 dollars. This country was followed by France with 1 million 806 thousand 521 dollars, USA with 766 thousand 24 dollars, Germany with 764 thousand 373 dollars and Spain with 268 thousand 668 dollars. This season, unlike the same period last one, anchovies were sold to Ukraine, Canada, Russia and Singapore too. "Anchovy exports continued its increasing trend" DKİB Chairman of the Board Saffet K...

May 7, 2020 Variations in the prices of commodities and the dollar, economic instability, the credit crunch of financial institutions and the lack of predictability of what may happen in the next harvest can generate insecurity in rural producers when planning and prospecting production costs. To circumvent the uncertainties generated by the political and economic scenario, barter operations can be an option so that you can buy inputs for the 2020-2021 harvest. After all, the exchange allows the farmer to fix input costs using market perspectives for the price of harvested bags. This type of operation began in the 1990s, with the interest of companies specializing in the commercialization of commodities to expand their soybean business in the Midwest region, but at the time it was still a little-known practice with a regional scope. However, because it is a safe option for farmers to acquire inputs in periods of high interest and difficult credit, this tool with a different ...

Press release... President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced the wheat purchase price of 2020 products. Grain intervention purchase price was announced before harvest just like last year. Accordingly, the Turkish Grain Board (TMO) will take from the producer red and white hard bread wheat from 1,650 lira per ton, barley from 1,275 lira, durum wheat from 1,800 lira, rye, oatmeal and triticale from 1,250 lira. The announced prices are compared to last year; increased 24.4 percent in durum wheat, 22.2 percent in bread wheat and 16 percent in barley. There was no rise in the amount of premium increased from 5 kurush per kilo to 10 kurush last year. For the 2020 product, 10 kurush per kilo support support premium will be paid to the farmer. In addition to these prices, our farmer will receive an additional income of 230 liras per ton with diesel, fertilizer, certified seeds and other supports, together with 10 kurush per kilo premium. Noting that the announced prices are interven...

May. 5, 2020 As countries seek to secure national food supplies, a draft report from the Brazilian agricultural ministry has warned that countries may implement export restrictions and subsidies. Brazilian officials expect the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to spark a rise in global agricultural protectionism as countries seek to secure local food supplies, according to a draft report from the agriculture ministry, seen by Reuters. The report pointed to the idea of “agriculture nationalism,” and the possibility of countries imposing export restrictions, subsidies and other policies to favour domestic agriculture industries in the aftermath of the pandemic. Brazil is the largest exporter of soybeans, sugar, coffee, orange juice, chicken and beef, and is considered by many a competitor with the US farm sector in several products. The draft report stated that there is likely to be more state intervention in agricultural markets going forward, and that some countries will eas...

Press release... Digital Agriculture Market will encourage everyone to production... Digital Agriculture Market will facilitate farmer's access to the market... With the Digital Agriculture Market, farmers will easily find a market for their products... Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters' Association Chairman Hayrettin Uçak evaluated the issues of April export figures, Digital Agriculture Market (DİTAP), problems resolved during the pandemic, measures taken, cherry exports to the Far East and 2020 season in general at the press conference organized by the Izmir Branch of the Economy Correspondents' Association. Stating that pandemic caused all sectors in the world to enter an economically distressed process, Hayrettin Uçak said, “In this period of time, the only sector that continues production by increasing its capacity instead of stopping is the agricultural sector, which is the first link of food and food production. The whole world understood the i...

Press release... FAO expects subdued usage to push up cereal stocks in 2019/20 and FAO’s first forecast for wheat markets in 2020/21 points to continued growth in inventories 07 May 2020, Rome - World food commodity prices declined for the third month in a row during April, as the economic and logistical impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant contractions in demand for many commodities. The FAO Food Price Index , which tracks international prices of the most commonly-traded food commodities, averaged 165.5 points in April, some 3.4 percent lower than the previous month and 3 percent lower than April 2019. The FAO Sugar Price Index hit a 13-year low, declining 14.6 percent from March, when it posted an even larger monthly drop. Collapsing international crude oil prices reduced demand for sugarcane to produce ethanol, diverting output to producing sugar and hence expanding export availabilities. Meanwhile, confinement measures in a number of countries spawn...