Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

As part of the October 18 United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) World Food Day activities, Turkish Food Employers Syndicate (TÜGİS), with the support of Food and Livestock Ministry and the FAO, conducted a program in the Istanbul Grand Cevahir Hotel.

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized in his speech that hunger is the most important matter in the world and that the world’s population increases by 70 million each year, “Every year another Turkey joins the population.”

Stating that the population of middle class in Asia has increased from 500,000 to 2 billion in the last 10 years, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “This means that people are settling in cities. They stop producing food and join the consumers.”

- “Our time will be shaped by energy, agriculture and water resources”

Stating that, in the period ahead, pressure on food prices will increase, TOBB President said that increasing food prices also increase global inequality. Relating that the world’s water problem has turned into a food problem, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Two subjects will determine the political boundaries of the 21st century. One of these is energy resources; the other is agriculture and water resources. These two matters will shape our age.”

Recalling that China has leased land from Ukraine, Africa and Australia, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that the decisions made by developed countries affects the world, especially developing countries.

Stating that the global food problem has become a structural issue, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that if it is not addressed globally there can be no solution.

The agricultural sector worldwide is lacking in investment, Hisarcıklıoğlu said and went on to say that productivity must also be increased in agriculture.

- Correct information regarding GMOs is a must

Touching on the subject of biotechnology and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Public worry about GMOs must be put to rest by people knowledgeable in this subject. The best way to combat misinformation is having the right people providing the right information at the right time.”

Stating that the food sector is very important for Turkey’s economy, he said that the sector in Turkey has many opportunities ahead.

- Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Eker

Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Eker stated that food is the permanent and universal need of man and said, “Food has been an increasingly felt problem ever since people started producing it not only for themselves but also for those living in cities.”

Eker went on, “The food problem is one of many dimensions and factors. The value of food is only understood when it is not available.”

- TÜGİS Board President Buzbaş

TÜGİS Board President Necdet Buzbaş stated that the instability of food commodity prices over the last 2 years poses a large threat to the poor countries in the world.

Buzbaş stated that every year the World Food Day’s theme is decided upon by the FAO headquarters in Rome and it is discussed and extrapolated on with this year’s theme being “global food prices, from crises to stability”.

“The instability of food commodity prices over the last 2 years poses a great threat for the poor countries of the world. Before we can decide how and how far we can manage the fluctuations in prices, we must firs determine the reasons and factors which affected the food commodity markets to respond in this manner which has until now been stable with acceptable prices. In the Food Price Index published by the UN FAO, we see that the prices today have exceeded those of the 2008 food commodity crisis. In many aspects, it is like we are continuing on from where the 2007-2008 crises left off.”

Buzbaş stated that another matter which keeps pressure on food commodity producers is trying to convert huge amounts of produce into bio-fuel for vehicles.
​