1. 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

2. 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

3. 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)

4. 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)

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

6. Staff, budget, projects and publications of GDAR
GDAR has 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

7. 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.

8. 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

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

10. Needs to biotechnology studies in the Institutes of GDAR
Certified variety release takes 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.

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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,
Drought Testing Center in Bahri Dagdas International Research Institute in 2010.

17. Plant Biotechnology and Plant Cold Test Centers
Plant Biotechnology Center to establish in Field Crops Central Research Institute in Ankara,
Plant Cold Test Center to establish under East Anatolia Research Institute, Erzurum.

18. 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,

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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.

22. Thank you for your attention…
Dr. A. Ahmet YUCER
Tel: