2 July 2012 Dr. A. Ahmet YÜCER Deputy Director General MINISTRY OF FOOOD AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK General Directorate of Agricultural Research And Policies Biotechnology Research in The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock in Turkey 2 July 2012 Dr. A. Ahmet YÜCER Deputy Director General

Outline Status of National Research System (NARS) in Turkey General information of General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policyies (GDAR) Biotechnology studies and Institutions of GDAR studying biotechnology Excellence center involved in biotechnology Biosafety Law and Institutions to detect GMOs

SOME ICT APPLICATIONS IN MINISTRY OF FOOD AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK Registration Systems (Farmer, Animal, Beekeeping, Organic Farming, Aquaculture, Cooperative, Genetic Resources etc) Precision Farming Applications Early Warning Systems for plant protection, Automatic Observation Stations for Agricultural Meteorology, Agricultural Crop Production and Monitoring, GIS, etc) Mobile Communications Food Line 174, GSM Message Learning Systems (E- Library, TV and Radio Programs) Web Sites (Public, private sector and NGO’s)

Current status of NARS (main contributors) Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology Scientific and Technological Research Council (TUBITAK) Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs Universities Departments of Agriculture (26) Veterinary (18) Food Engineering (36) Fisheries (23) Forestry (10)

Research Institutes of GDAR 10 Regional Res. Ins. 11 Central Res. Ins. 26 Subject Oriented Res. Stations Total 47 Res. Ins. 5

Staff, budget, projects and publications of GDAR GDAR has 2.000 researchers in different agricultural areas, Completed total project number has increasing too, completed project number was 200 in 2011, Researchers are publicated 650 national and 400 international publication in 2011

GDAR budget has been increased ten times in the last 10 years. GDAR Budget (1000 USD) Budget (USD) GDAR budget has been increased ten times in the last 10 years.

GDAR Mandates Determine National Research Strategy and prepare Research Master Plan Set up research priorities and allocate the available resources to the programs Monitor and evaluate research programs Disseminate and publish the research results Carry out research to improve new technologies and applied end-user Improve research system, human resources and capacity Assist the government in developing agricultural policy

Biotechnology studies in Turkey Mainly; Universities, TÜBİTAK and Research Institutes of MFAL Conducting biotechnology studies Capacity building Training

Needs to biotechnology studies in the Institutes of GDAR Certified variety release takes 12-13 years via conventional breeding. Getting homogenous inbred lines takes six-seven years after crossing. In our Institutions, producing double haploid plants via anther cultures shortens time at least four-five years to get inbred lines. The first studies in horticulture; Atatürk Horticultural Crops Central Research Institute, Yalova in 1993, West Mediterranean Research Institute in 1994, In field crops; Capacity building for infrastructure initiated in Central Field Research Institution in 1996.

Institutions and projects related biotechnology under GDAR Research staff (Ph.D+ M.Sc.) Number of conducted projects 1 Field Crops Central Research Institute, Ankara 9 10 2 West Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute, Antalya 7 39 3 Atatürk Horticultural Crops Central Research Institute, Yalova 16 24 4 Alata Horticultural Crops Central Research Institute, Mersin 5 Lalahan Animal Central Research Institute, Ankara 14 6 East Meditarrenaen Agricultural Research Institution, Adana Bahri Dağdaş International Agricultural Research Institution Konya 8 Aegean Agricultural Research Institution, İzmir Potatos Research Station, Niğde Cotton Station, Nazilli - Aydın 11 Other Research Institutions TOTAL 95 130

Biotechnology projects on Horticulture Crops Producing virus free buds, Dihaploid breeding of melon via anther culture, Embryo rescue of Citruses, Disease free production of banana and ornamental plants, Mi gene analysis of tomato to determine root tumor nematod, Characterization of populations, Determining of inter/intra genetic relationships of genotypes, Determining commercial varieties via DNA fingerprinting and genetic mapping, Marker assisted selection, Determining the mechanism of biotic and abiotic stresses resistance.

Conservation of livestock genetic resources via Biotechnology projects Embryo transfer- MOET (Polly ovul) studies Major Gen seeking, Gender identification, Determining gen polymorphism, Lab and staff capacity building at Bandırma Sheep Research Station Conservation of livestock genetic resources (DNA, sperm and embryo) Two gene bank established; Lalahan Animal Central Research Institute and TÜBİTAK-MAM, Gebze

Plant tissue culture labs in Niğde and İzmir Plant Tissue Culture Center established at Aegean Agricultural Research Institute (AARI), Stock material for potato, fruit trees and ornamental plants will be developed in that Center, Lab and staff capacity developed in Niğde Potato Research Station (NPRS), AARI and NPRS have capacity for 10 % basic seed (mini tuber) production capacity of the Country. Domestic potato varieties developed using biotechnology will be available in a few years

Biotechnology projects on Field Crops Determining crop diversity by molecular markers, Genetic characterization of plant material (Land races, varieties, breeding material/lines), Marker assisted selection especially for resistance to pests and diseases, Anther culture for getting Doubled haploid plants to shorten breeding duration, Analyzing and determining transgenic plants, Developing pure lines and commercial varieties of field crops such as wheat, cicer, lentil, cotton, potatos and barley by using combination of biotechnology and conventional breeding.

Animal Biotechnology and Plant Drought Test Center in Konya Centers of excellence using biotechnology under GDAR: Animal Biotechnology Center, Bull Testing Center and Animal Gene Bank Unit, opened in Lalahan, Ankara in 2010, http://www.lalahanhmae.gov.tr/EN/Index.aspx Drought Testing Center in Bahri Dagdas International Research Institute in 2010. http://www.bdutae.gov.tr/index.php

Plant Biotechnology and Plant Cold Test Centers Plant Biotechnology Center to establish in Field Crops Central Research Institute in Ankara, http://www.tarlabitkileri.gov.tr/ Plant Cold Test Center to establish under East Anatolia Research Institute, Erzurum. http://www.datae.gov.tr/

Lab and staff capacity developed to detect and identify GMOs  Ankara Food Control Laboratory Directorate, İstanbul Food Control Laboratory Directorate, National Food Reference Laboratory, Bursa Food and Feed Control Central Research Institute, Ankara Field Crops Central Research Institute, Antalya West Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute,

Biosafety Law Established Mechanism of Knowledge Change The Law prepared and released by coordination of the MFAL, Cooperation with Governmental Institutions, Universities and NGOs, Considering; EU Laws and Legislations, Cartagena Biosafety Protocol, The situation and needs of the Country, The Law published in Official Gazette in 26 March 2010. Established Mechanism of Knowledge Change You can see decisions of Board and reports of Scientific Committees in this web site http://www.tbbdm.gov.tr/Home.aspx

Biosafety Law According to Biosafety law in Turkey; GMO’s research is free, GMO’s crop production is forbidden, GMO’s use in infant formula is forbidden GMO’s product importation for feed, food and bioenergy is depend on permission from Biosafety Board

Conclusion Agricultural Biotechnology for Knowledge Sharing in NENA Region; to establishment of a biotechnology integrated system efficient and sustainable to built a network between Researchers and Research Institutes In principle, Turkey is ready to contribute and strengthening regional cooperation.

Thank you for your attention… Dr. A. Ahmet YUCER Tel: +90 312 3435674 ayucer@tagem.gov.tr