Organized by Turkish Grain Board (TMO) and Turkish Flour Industrialists’ Federation (TUSAF), “Turkey Grain Congress 2021” started in Antalya.
TFIF President Eren Gunhan Ulusoy, who spoke at the opening of the congress with the main theme of “climate change and global epidemic”, in a hotel in Aksu district Kundu Tourism Zone, attended by Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli, drew attention to the increase in global temperature.
Pointing out that the increase in global temperature will reduce the world’s crop yield by 6% in wheat, 3.2% in rice and 7.4% in corn, Ulusoy said, “It will reduce the nutritional value.” He stated that it is estimated that 2 degrees of global warming will put 84 million more people at risk of starvation in 2050.
“WE CONTINUE TO PROTECT FLOUR EXPORT LEADERSHIP IN THE WORLD FOR THE LAST 7 YEARS”
Noting that this year, the temperature increased by 1.7 degrees, the amount of precipitation in agricultural areas decreased by 20%, Ulusoy said, “Droughts that were experienced every 10 years before, are expected to occur every 5 years from now on. We appreciate and hope the addition of climate change to the mandate of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization.”
Ulusoy stated that they delivered the products to the tables without breaking the food supply chain during the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) period, and said:
“I would like to thank the industry for this success. However, we continue to maintain the flour export leadership in the world for the last 7 years. The pasta industry has also been the shining star of grain products exports in recent years. Pasta export, which was $422 million in 2016, increased to $762 million at the end of 2020. Thus, our pasta export increased by 80% in 4 years and we became the second-largest pasta exporter in the world after Italy.”
“TOGETHER WE MANAGE THIS PROCESS CORRECTLY”
TMO Chairman and General Manager Ahmet Guldal said that the industry came together after a long time.
Pointing out that their aim is to provide balance and stability in the market, Guldal noted that this is needed by the state and the industry.
Pointing out that the epidemic seriously affected the sector, Guldal said, “We are going through an extraordinary process. As a result of the negotiations, we determined a roadmap and started to implement it. As TMO, we are fully following the instructions of our ministries. While doing this, we consult with the whole sector, help each other and make sacrifices. We are managing this process together correctly, we will manage it, and as a result, we will meet on more beautiful and stable days. All our measures are on our table. Nobody should be worried.”
Antalya Governor Ersin Yazici also stated that Antalya is an important city in agriculture as well as tourism.
AK Party Antalya Deputy Kemal Celik stated that they were criticized for exporting wheat in the Parliament.
Celik noted that they sell the wheat they export to the world by making pasta, and that they have a say in pasta export with Italy.
Source: Sabah / Translated by Irem Yildiz