Canada, the world’s largest exporter of pulses, has given Türkiye a billion-dollar lesson in the industry. Holding the leadership position in global pulse exports, Canada’s $3.5 billion success story stands out. Journalist İrfan Donat from Oksijen highlights the issue in his article titled “We Missed a $3.5 Billion Opportunity, Canada Seized It.”
Türkiye Was Once a Leader in Pulse Exports but Now Struggles to Feed Itself
There was a time when Türkiye was among the world’s top exporters of pulses, producing more than enough for domestic consumption. However, due to poor strategic planning in agricultural policies and the impact of World Bank and IMF-imposed policies, the country has lost its competitive edge over the years.
Pulse crops—such as lentils, chickpeas, beans, peas, and kidney beans—are among the healthiest and most affordable plant-based protein sources. With the rising trend of vegan diets, pulses have become a preferred raw material in the food industry. They are also resilient to drought and help fix nitrogen in the soil, making them an environmentally friendly crop.
Despite these advantages, Türkiye’s pulse production has drastically declined. In the 1990s, the country had 20.3 million decares of pulse cultivation areas, but by 2023, this number had shrunk by 57% to just 8.8 million decares. Consequently, Türkiye’s total pulse production, which once exceeded 2 million tons, has dropped by 35% to 1.3 million tons.
Dramatic Decline in Production Over the Last 30 Years
A closer look at specific pulse varieties over the past three decades reveals the extent of the decline:
- Chickpea cultivation areas have decreased by 48%, with production falling by 33%.
- Red lentil cultivation has dropped by 56%, while production has decreased by 33%.
- Green lentil farming has suffered the worst hit, with an 84% reduction in cultivated land and a 77% decline in production.
- Other pulses like peas, cowpeas, and fava beans show similar trends.
- The only exception is dried beans, where a 48% decrease in cultivated area has been partially offset by increased yield per decare, resulting in a limited 14% production growth.
Türkiye’s Growing Dependence on Pulse Imports
As Türkiye’s pulse production has fallen, its population has grown significantly—from 54 million in 1990 to over 90 million today (including refugees). This imbalance has turned Türkiye from a major exporter into an importer, relying on foreign sources for staple pulses.
Today, a quick look at supermarket labels in Türkiye reveals that pulses come from countries such as Canada, Australia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Argentina, Myanmar, Ethiopia, the U.S., Kyrgyzstan, India, Mexico, and more.
According to Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) data, Türkiye’s 2024 foreign trade figures show $993 million in pulse imports versus $1.274 billion in exports, resulting in a trade surplus of $281 million. However, this figure is misleading, as the majority of exports rely on imported pulses under the Inward Processing Regime (DIR) or re-export trade models. In reality, Türkiye does not produce enough pulses to sustain its own domestic demand, let alone exports.
Currently, Türkiye meets only:
- 91% of its domestic demand for dried beans,
- 86% for red lentils,
- 60% for green lentils,
- 118% for chickpeas (though industry experts argue that actual self-sufficiency rates are lower).
Despite being the historical homeland of lentils and chickpeas, Türkiye now depends on other countries for these products.
How Canada Became the Global Leader in Pulses
While Türkiye lost its leadership in pulse exports, Canada capitalized on the opportunity. Interestingly, in the 1970s, Canada had no lentil production at all. However, the country conducted extensive research on climate change, future agricultural trends, and global food demand. It identified pulses—especially lentils—as a key growth opportunity.
In 1972, Canada established crop research centers at various universities to study lentils. Recognizing that Türkiye was the natural home of lentils, Canadian researchers acquired Turkish lentil varieties and improved them through breeding programs. Their investment in research and development (R&D) paid off, leading to the country’s rise as a global pulse production powerhouse.
Canada’s Strategic Approach to Pulse Exports
In the 1980s, Canadian consumers became more interested in healthier food options, further boosting the pulse industry. Additionally, as Canada’s wheat market became saturated, the country sought alternative crops to maintain its agricultural exports.
Canada’s success was built on a strong synergy between the private sector, universities, and government agencies. The country heavily invested in R&D, and its findings were swiftly applied to production and trade policies.
Former Canadian Ambassador John Holmes summarized their strategy as follows:
- The private sector worked closely with universities to determine the best lentil varieties and cultivation methods.
- Farmers were provided with knowledge and resources to rapidly increase production.
- Extensive market research was conducted globally to identify target markets and effective marketing strategies.
Canada’s $3.5 Billion Pulse Export Success
As a result of these efforts, Canada’s total pulse exports reached $3.5 billion in 2023. The breakdown includes:
- $1.7 billion from lentils,
- $1.1 billion from peas,
- $421 million from dried beans,
- $226 million from chickpeas.
Unlike Türkiye, Canada’s exports are based entirely on domestic production rather than imports.
Ironically, Türkiye is now one of Canada’s biggest customers. The country imports 62% of its total lentil supply from Canada, paying $380 million annually for a product that was originally developed from Turkish lentil varieties.
Key Lessons for Türkiye’s Agricultural Future
Canada’s success and Türkiye’s decline offer two critical lessons:
- Strategic Agricultural Planning is Crucial: A well-planned, long-term agricultural strategy can transform a country’s global standing. Türkiye lost its leadership in pulses due to a lack of strategy, while Canada achieved success through meticulous planning.
- Climate Change is Reshaping Global Agriculture: Climate change is expected to benefit colder countries like Canada by making previously unsuitable lands viable for farming. In contrast, Türkiye faces increased drought and water shortages, which will reduce agricultural productivity unless new strategies are implemented.
“We Are Trying to Fill the Gap with Imports”
Abdullah Özdemir, President of the National Pulses Council, states that Türkiye’s pulse production has fluctuated between 1 and 1.3 million tons over the past 17 years. He warns that Türkiye’s export numbers are misleading since they rely heavily on imported pulses for processing and re-export.
“Türkiye was the world leader in pulse exports in the 1980s. However, over the last 30 years, we have lost that position to countries like Canada, Australia, and Russia, which were once insignificant players in the market,” Özdemir says.
Türkiye Could Triple Its Pulse Production
Özdemir attributes the decline in Türkiye’s pulse production to the end of the Fallow Land Reduction Project in 1994 and the Turkish Grain Board (TMO) ceasing pulse purchases in the same year. He also criticizes inadequate government support, noting that pulse subsidies remained at 50 kuruş per kilogram from 2018 to 2023.
While global pulse production has grown by 70% to 94 million tons over the past 30 years, Türkiye’s output has dropped by 33%. However, Özdemir believes Türkiye has the potential to triple its pulse production with the right strategy and become a competitive exporter again.
Source: Patronlar Dünyası/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök