As a result of the efforts of Turkey’s Sugar Factories Inc. (Türkşeker), a first was achieved, and domestic sugar beet seed was registered.
According to the statement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, ongoing efforts in Turkey, one of the largest sugar beet producers in both the world and Europe, to develop domestic and national sugar beet varieties have yielded results.
Efforts to develop domestic sugar beet varieties, which began about 30 years ago at the Sugar Institute affiliated with Türkşeker, have accelerated in recent years.
In this context, a protocol titled “Breeding and Seed Production of Domestic and National Sugar Beet Varieties Resistant to Diseases and Pests” was signed between the company and Prof. Dr. Songül Gürel and Prof. Dr. Ekrem Gürel from Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, and Prof. Dr. Mehmet Cengiz Baloğlu from Kastamonu University.
As a result of steps taken to develop domestically produced sugar beets resistant to diseases and pests using molecular biological methods, resulting in the approval of the sugar beet varieties named “Türkşeker 2023” and “Türkşeker 2053” in January 2022, both types were registered on the Ministry’s “National Variety List”.
Seed production for the registered varieties began this year. These domestic sugar beet varieties will be available to Turkish farmers in 2025 and subsequent years. It is expected that within about 7 years, domestic sugar beet seed production will meet Turkey’s entire needs and reach export levels.
Minister Yumaklı thanked those involved in the efforts
Commenting on this development, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı emphasized the importance of registering the domestic sugar beet seed, a dream they had cherished for many years.
Yumaklı expressed his gratitude to university professors and Türkşeker employees involved in the efforts, stating, “Turkey is one of the leading countries in seed production. We are climbing up the rankings day by day. Hopefully, next year we will introduce our domestic sugar beet seeds to the soil.
source: aa.com.tr/ prepared by Melisa Beğiç