Serkan SAYAK
AVES Enerji Yağ ve Gıda San. A.Ş.
R&D and Quality Manager 

Turkey’s first domestic Soy Protein Concentrate (SPC) production marks a strategic leap for the livestock sector boosting efficiency while cutting import dependence. Aves’ facility in Mersin delivers this high-protein, highly digestible feed ingredient, reducing costs for producers and strengthening the industry’s sustainability.

Feed ingredients, situated at the intersection of sustainable livestock production and efficient performance, have become one of the most critical components of today’s food chain. On a global scale, rising population, increasing demand for animal protein, and fluctuations in feed costs are driving producers to seek more sustainable and cost-effective solutions. In this context, the feed industry’s demand for high-protein, highly digestible, and functionally supportive products continues to grow.

Soy protein concentrate (SPC), one of the most effective answers to these needs, stands out with its high protein content (60–65%), low levels of anti-nutritional factors, and excellent digestibility. Particularly in cattle fattening, poultry, and aquaculture sectors, SPC plays a vital role in enhancing performance, improving feed conversion rates, and supporting animal health. As of March 2025, SPC has begun to be produced domestically for the first time by Aves Enerji Yağ ve Gıda Sanayi A.Ş., marking Türkiye’s first and only SPC production.

A NEW STANDARD IN PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY: SPC

SPC is a specialized feed ingredient obtained by removing soluble carbohydrates from defatted soybean meal. It contains high levels of protein and functional amino acids. Compared to conventional soybean meal, it has significantly lower levels of anti-nutritional factors (such as trypsin inhibitors and lectins), making it more digestible especially for young animals.

In fattening cattle, SPC use:

• Accelerates live weight gain,
• Improves feed conversion rate,
• Supports the immune system,
• Contributes positively to carcass quality.

Assessing from the producer’s perspective, SPC use helps optimize feed costs, shortens the production cycle per animal, and enhances overall economic efficiency. Additionally, when integrated into rations, it provides formulation flexibility and supports balanced feed composition.

TÜRKİYE’S RELIANCE ON IMPORTS AND ASSOCIATED SECTOR RISKS

Until now, SPC had not been produced domestically in Türkiye. As a result, this strategic feed ingredient was entirely imported. As of 2024, Türkiye has imported over 2 million tons of soybean products annually, most of which were used by the feed sector.

However, this structure carries several risks:

• Cost pressures linked to currency exchange rates,
• Supply chain fragility,
• Geopolitical and logistical risks,
• Weaknesses in meeting sustainability criteria.

In this context, local SPC production is not merely a production choice but it is a critical step for the strategic security of the feed industry.

AVES’ STRATEGIC CONTRIBUTION: TÜRKİYE’S FIRST SPC FACILITY

Operating in areas such as oilseed processing and biodiesel production at its integrated facility in Mersin for years, Aves Enerji Yağ ve Gıda Sanayi accurately analyzed sectoral needs and commissioned Türkiye’s first and only SPC production plant in March 2025. With this facility, Aves:

• Eliminates the country’s dependency on imported SPC,
• Enables more stable and high-quality feed formulations in livestock production,
• Establishes a product range with high export potential.

The SPC produced at the facility is processed in compliance with international quality and safety standards and meets the highest expectations of the feed industry with its low urea and anti-nutritional values.

A CHAIN REACTION IN AGRICULTURE AND FEED

Aves’ SPC investment paves the way for Türkiye’s feed industry to achieve a more balanced, flexible, and locally rooted structure. The production of soy protein concentrate, particularly in ruminant livestock farming:

• Improves feed conversion rates and reduces costs,
• Offers producers greater flexibility in ration planning, and
• Enhances animal welfare and supports the production of high-quality meat.

SPC also plays a critical role in specialized feeding stages such as early calf nutrition, pregnant heifer programs, and high-performance breeding nutrition.

A CHAIN REACTION IN AGRICULTURE AND FEED

Local SPC production offers significant opportunities not only for livestock but also for agricultural production. Thanks to this investment:

• Encouraging domestic soybean cultivation can open alternative income channels for farmers,
• Adding value to agricultural products can strengthen balance in the domestic market,
• Integration between the feed and agriculture sectors can be enhanced.

With this vision, Aves is not only producing feed additives but also directly contributing to Türkiye’s agricultural sustainability goals by reinforcing agri-industry collaboration.

A STRATEGIC MOVE FOR SECTOR-WIDE BENEFITS

Enhancing the efficiency, sustainability, and competitiveness of Türkiye’s livestock sector is only possible through the domestic and high-quality production of strategic products. In this regard, Aves Enerji Yağ ve Gıda Sanayi’s SPC production is not just an investment; it is a local solution for the feed industry, a performance assurance for livestock production, and a strategic step for the country’s agriculture.

It is clear that such initiatives, which boost Türkiye’s competitiveness in the feed industry, will also play a role in shaping livestock policies by raising sectoral awareness and motivating domestic production. Aves’ pioneering role is guiding not only today’s livestock industry but also its future.

As Aves Group, with over 30 years of experience in the industry, an annual production capacity of 1.5 million tons, and fully integrated facilities equipped with the latest technology, we are shaping the vegetable oil sector. Thanks to our sustainable production and supply strength, we continue to increase our contribution to Türkiye’s economy day by day. Through our global companies in international commodity trade, we are among the leading firms in Türkiye in the supply and production of crude sunflower oil. Our operations span the production and global trade of vegetable oils, high-protein meal production, biodiesel production, vegetable oil storage, peanut processing, real estate, and offshore ship loading and unloading via our platform, Savka.