Ravi Prakash Singh, senior adviser CIMMYT emphasized that wheat programmes in Türkiye have contributed greatly to international wheat improvement efforts and declared his happiness at seeing “such a comprehensive and collaborative assessment of the wheat sector in Türkiye, the findings of which are very exciting”.
Wheat is the main source of food for 35 percent of the world population and an important source of livelihood for 2 billion people. In light of the strategic importance of this crop, a UN Cooperation Project entitled “Supply Chain Analysis for the Turkish Wheat Sector – Building a Resilient Food System” was launched to provide a detailed picture of the Turkish wheat sector. This joint project was coordinated by the UN Resident Coordinator Office in Türkiye, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP), in cooperation with the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
The project has now come to an end and has delivered its main output – a report providing a road map to make the sector more resilient to crises. The closing meeting of the project, held this week, was attended by project partners and stakeholders, and shared the summary results of the report. Representing months of work, the report provides a detailed overview of the most important wheat production areas of Türkiye.
Delivering the opening speech of the meeting, FAO Sub-regional Coordinator for Central Asia and Türkiye, Viorel Gutu highlighted some of the recent challenges facing the wheat supply chain, notably the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war and the recent earthquakes in Türkiye. He further noted that “the project has made a thorough assessment of the socio-economic situation of the sector, and contains important findings and detailed recommendations for decision-makers.”
Mahmut Arslan, Programme Policy Officer of the World Food Programme (WFP), drew attention to the joint effort and commitment involved in producing the report, and stated that “The report will serve as a road map for improving the livelihoods of everyone in the sector.”
Taylan Kıymaz, Programme Officer at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Türkiye Office, explained that IFAD will work to increase the visibility of the project and hoped “that the results will contribute to further strengthening the sector against emerging challenges.”
Alvaro Rodriguez, UN Resident Coordinator for Türkiye, highlighted the importance of the project in ensuring regional food supply stability during a period of global instability. “We are going through difficult times”, he stated, “and are not on course to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”, adding, “but even if the global situation does not look favourable, I am hopeful about Türkiye’s progress”.
Ahmet Volkan Güngören, Director-General for European Union and Foreign Relations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, emphasized the vital importance of food security for peace and stability: “It is not possible for peace and stability to be sustainable in a region where there is hunger. The outputs, findings and recommendations of this project, which is funded by the UN Sustainable Development Fund, provide a robust road map for all stakeholders.”
Following the opening speeches, Project Coordinator Erdoğan Güneş provided technical information about the underlying methodology and compilation of the project report. He was followed by FAO Senior Agriculture Specialist Fazıl Düşünceli, who shared with the participants some of the data and findings from the project, emphasizing that the project was based on field data and was a fundamentally consultative process. He also noted that the project sets a good example for other countries in the region, for whom wheat is a matter of national security. Düşünceli explained: “This study reveals that Türkiye possesses strong technical, institutional and industrial capacities to capitalize on extensive opportunities to develop the regional wheat sector, from North Africa to Central Asia. Similar projects should therefore be explored to enhance the resilience of the wheat sector, overcome emerging challenges and improve the livelihoods of rural populations.”
Ravi Prakash Singh, senior adviser to the Director-General of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), provided a summary of the impact of international wheat improvement programmes in Türkiye over the last 40 years, which have been implemented jointly with the International Centre for Agricultural research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and the research institutions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Türkiye. He emphasized that wheat programmes in Türkiye have contributed greatly to international wheat improvement efforts and declared his happiness at seeing “such a comprehensive and collaborative assessment of the wheat sector in Türkiye, the findings of which are very exciting”. He concluded his intervention by noting that “such collaborative studies are critical to achieving targeted goals in the wheat sector, not only in Türkiye, but in the whole region.” He continued: “If we, the research and development communities, can work together, we can achieve an annual yield increase of 2 percent or more, which can feed 400 000 more people. It is therefore essential to develop collaborative multisectoral initiatives to enhance wheat production in the region”.
NEW WEBSITE ADVANCES SUSTAINABLE FOOD
SYSTEMS IN THE BLACK SEA REGION
Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Regional Cooperation Centre for Sustainable Food Systems (BSEC-CSFS) has launched a dedicated website to promote the food systems transformation agenda in the BSEC region, and to contribute to building a network of food system professionals. The BSEC-CSFS website will serve as a platform for knowledge exchange and information on the Centre’s activities, and will provide updates on food systems and food security in the region, related reference materials, guidelines, and information from member states and partners.
BSEC-CSFS was established in Ankara, Türkiye, by member states of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) in November 2020 under a project implemented by FAO within the scope of the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programme on Food and Agriculture (FTPP II). The creation of the BSEC-CSFS was a response to dramatic changes in food systems worldwide, many of which have become increasingly globalized, concentrated, industrialized, and science and capital-intensive.
The launch of the BSEC-CSFS website reflects efforts by Türkiye, BSEC and FAO to tackle current challenges in food systems at a regional level. The website will serve as a knowledge hub and facilitate the sharing of information and experience among food systems stakeholders in the Black Sea region and beyond.
The website also provides important information about food systems frameworks and the current state of food systems in the BSEC region. Visitors can access relevant publications including individual country food systems assessment reports, which provide useful data for decision-makers and agri-food professionals alike. In addition, the website contains information about training and relevant press releases among other features.
Additionally, the “Join Us” section of the website enables individuals or institutions to communicate their work and ideas on food systems, providing a useful tool to contribute to the establishment of a regional platform for food systems.
ABOUT THE FAO-TÜRKIYE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMMES
The objectives of the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programmes are to provide support to ensure food security, rural poverty reduction and sustainable forest management; combat desertification; and preserve ecosystems in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and other countries of mutual interest.
Established in 2007, the first phase of the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programme on Food and Agriculture (FTPP) has benefited from trust fund contributions totalling USD 10 million, financed by the Government of Türkiye and represented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. During the first phase of the programme, 28 projects were implemented in 16 countries between 2009 and 2015.
In 2014, Türkiye and FAO commenced the second phase of the FTPP along with the first phase of the FAO-Türkiye Forestry Partnership Programme (FTFP), with additional funding of USD 20 million, bringing Türkiye’s total contribution to USD 30 million.
LINKS:
Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization Regional Cooperation Centre for Sustainable Food Systems (BSEC-CSFS)/project flyer
Conference spotlights regional food system sustainability