The Turkish Feed Industrialists’ Association (TÜRKİYEM-BİR), which represents 85 percent of the Turkish compound feed sector on a production basis, made a lively return to the congress and exhibition tradition, which was interrupted due to the pandemic. The fourteenth International Feed Congress and Feed Exhibition (TUYEM), which is traditionally held every two years but has been interrupted since 2018, was held in Cyprus. The organization took place on April 27-30 and brought together over a thousand feed industry stakeholders from Turkey and around the world. Many people, including industry veterans, grain traders, feed producers, additive manufacturers, academicians and the press, discussed the problems of the feed sector for three days. In the exhibition, which was held simultaneously with the presentations within the scope of the congress, many companies, especially feed technologies, feed additives and packaging companies, had the opportunity to host their visitors at their stands. It was noteworthy that only feed industry specialty magazine Feed Planet was present in the press area of the congress and exhibition, the most important platform of the Turkish feed industry. 

The opening speech was made by Ülkü Karakuş, President of TÜRKİYEM-BİR. Giving information about the history of the organization and its significance for the sector, President Ülkü Karakuş stated that he was happy to come together under the roof of TUYEM, which is held every two years under normal conditions, albeit with a delay. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the feed industry, he informed that the next organization was planned for next year without waiting for 2025.

Within the scope of the first day program, economist İsmet Gergerli made a presentation titled “World Agenda and Reflections on Our Economy” and gave tips on access to finance, one of the main issues for traders and producers. Afterwards, a presentation titled “Our Feed Industry and Its Future in the 100th Year of Our Republic” was moderated by President Ülkü Karakuş. In order to better express the stages through which the Turkish feed industry has passed from the past to the present, doyens from every decade of the industry were asked to speak at the panel, and it was noted that the feed industry was even one step ahead of the food industry and completed its privatization very early. The panelists who shared their experiences were Dr. Sait Koca (Beypiliç), Dr. M. Ali Tanör (Optima Feed), Dr. Durali Koçak (General Directorate of Food and Control) and Önder Matlı (Proyem). The day ended with the presentation of plaques to the leading names of the sector and the sponsors of the organization.

On April 29, three presentations were made under the moderation of Prof. Dr. Nizamettin Şenköylü, a veterean of the feed industry. The first presentation was made by Prof. Dr. Nazan Koluman from Çukurova University Faculty of Agriculture on climate change, a topic closely related to many sectors around the world. In her presentation titled “The Effects of Climate Change on the Feed Sector”, Prof. Koluman gave information on the consequences of the lowering of ground water, changes in average temperatures and shifts in the seasonal cycle. The second presentation was on “New Opportunities and Logistics in the World Feed Raw Material Trade” by Turgut Yeğenağa, manager of Bunge Turkey. Finally, Ramazan Ata from Atasancak gave information about the animal protein deficit. Again a significant subject. Ata shared current developments and future projections on new approaches to meet the growing protein deficit in the face of rising population and increasing demand.

The last presentation, which focused on topics such as health, technology and facility management in feed production, was moderated by Prof. Dr. İbrahim Çiftci. According to the program, Erdal Elmas (BRF/Banvit), Özgür Bülbül (Şenpiliç) and Bahar Emre (Ministry of Trade) made twenty-minute presentations each.

Ülkü Karakuş, President of TÜRKİYEMBİR, took the floor from time to time during the presentations at TUYEM, where the stakeholders of the feed sector came together after a five-year hiatus, and commented on the inflation-related increase in feed prices and consequently in the prices of animal products. He underlined that the resources distributed by the Ministry of Agriculture should serve two purposes: either to increase production or to reduce prices. Karakuş argued that these two goals are far away for the time being and said that grants and loans should be distributed more carefully. Stating that the recently enacted 130% customs tax on grain products will have a direct impact on feed prices, President Karakuş said that they are in favor of re-evaluation of the decision after the upcoming presidential election.