1. Agricultural Biotechnology in Turkey
AKDENIZ UNIVERSITY
Agricultural Biotechnology in Turkey
Mehmet Inan, Ph.D.
Food Safety and Agricultural Research Center
Akdeniz University, Antalya-Turkey

2. Background
Turkey is an agricultural country and has a considerable amount of agricultural production
potential in terms of soil,
climate and
water resources.
4 Million farmer in Turkey
22 Million depends on agriculture for a living in Turkey. 

3. Background Situated between Europe and the Middle East
Forest land occupies about 42 percent of the country,
and 40 percent of agricultural land is occupied by field crops, fruit-trees and vegetable crops.
Turkey is an important fruit producer country.
Turkey’s fresh fruit & vegetable production is approximately 47 million tons.
Average farm size is 6 hectares
3/05/2014

4. Threats
Changes in climate and wider global warming are challenging productivity
Increases in both population and food consumption pose a considerable threat to food security.
Emerging Plant diseases, immunity of pathogens to chemical agents
Water shortage
Misuse of arable land, urbanization

5. Enhanced use of technology & innovation Biotechnology in agriculture
Opportunities
Enhanced use of technology & innovation
Biotechnology in agriculture
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6. Why is agricultural biotechnology important?
Food Safety
Food Security
Nutrition

7. Agricultural biotechnology
Agricultural biotechnology includes a range of tools that scientists employ to understand and manipulate the genetic make-up of organisms for use in the production or processing of agricultural products.

8. Biotech Crops in the World
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9. 3/05/2014

11. Biosafety Law in Turkey
The Biosafety Law went into effect on September 26, 2010
As of May 1, 2015, there are 25 corn and seven soy events approved for feed use only in Turkey
Soybean and corn are approved for animal feed not for food
In October 2014, Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock (MinFAL) began requiring a government attestation that imports of enzymes and microorganisms, and products that utilize them, are not obtained from genetic engineering.

12. In May, 2015, MinFAL decided not to continue the requirement for enzymes or for products that utilized enzymes in their manufacture.
However, for microorganisms, importers are still required to provide a biotech-free certificate.
Turkey has zero tolerance for the detection of unapproved GE traits
Any imported food or feed containing GE crops above the labeling threshold (0.9%) must be labeled.
Turkey ratified the Cartagena Biosafety Protocol on October 24, 2003 and entered it into force on January 24, 2004

13. Biosafety Law in Turkey
Biosafety Law permits the regulated study and development of plant biotechnology
Permit is not required for agricultural biotech research.
The researcher must inform MinFAL Agricultural Research and Policies General Directorate (TAGEM) about the research activity and its result(s).
The law bans the production of genetically engineered animals and plants.
Importation of transgenic seeds is also forbidden by the Law
Due to insufficient domestic production and increasing demand, Turkey imports significant quantities of feed crops for its poultry and livestock sectors.

14. Biotechnology Strategy and Action Plan
High Planning Council (HPC) of Turkey adopted the “Biotechnology Strategy and Action Plan” for
The Plan covers all aspect of biotechnology
agricultural,
health,
industrial
owned by very high level government authority
The Prime Minister
and Ministers

15. Strategy and Action Plan
to regulate the legal and administrative structure,
to improve technical infrastructure,
to increase production capacity,
to improve agricultural, health and industrial biotechnology sectors

16. Conclusion
Agriculture holds an important place in the Turkish economy.
To achieve its development goals, what should be implemented
high-tech irrigation practices in agriculture
Versatile application of equipment for seeds, fertilisers and crop protection products
Soil and water management
Advances in crop mapping and recording equipment
Enhancing adoption of animal breeding and reproduction technologies in farms
biotic and abiotic stress monitoring/ assessment technologies in crop systems

17. Embryo and semen production, evaluation and storage technologies.
Using genomic tools to improve animal and plant breeding.
Tissue culturing (or other culture methods) to decrease the duration of variety development.
Assisted breeding and reproduction technologies such as artificial insemination, or embryo transfer, and other related technologies