The Intercontinental Commodity Exchange Dubai 2025 conference, where Miller Magazine served as a media partner, successfully brought together key industry leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss the future of global commodity trading, sustainability, and biofuels. Held on February 19-20, 2025, at Jumeirah Emirates Towers, the event provided a high-level platform for exchanging insights on emerging trends, geopolitical impacts, and innovative solutions shaping the industry.

Throughout the sessions, industry leaders shared their expertise on crucial topics such as global food security and the evolution of trade routes. Panel discussions also explored sustainability strategies in grain, pulse, and oilseed production, along with the impact of carbon financing and CO2 shipping taxes on the global market.

At the conference, Ahmet Güldal, General Manager of the Turkish Grain Board (TMO), delivered a key speech addressing global food security. He emphasized the importance of sustainable agricultural policies and proposed strategic solutions to tackle global challenges such as population growth, food waste, and climate change. Güldal stressed that long-term solutions and effective resource management are critical to ensuring food security in the face of these growing global threats.

As the world’s population grows, access to food becomes increasingly difficult. Güldal pointed out that while the global population was 3 billion in the 1960s, it has now reached 8 billion and is projected to approach 10 billion by 2050. However, the rural population involved in agricultural production is rapidly declining. “In the past 60 years, the rural population has decreased by 23%,” Güldal stated.

Ahmet Güldal
General Manager of the Turkish Grain Board

Despite the growing demand for food, especially grains and oilseeds, agricultural land expansion has not kept pace. “The demand for grains has increased 2.5 times in the last 60 years, while demand for oilseeds has risen 19-fold. However, cultivated areas have not expanded similarly. Grain cultivation areas have increased by 14%, while oilseed areas have expanded 11 times, showing that agricultural land is limited,” he added.

Güldal also addressed the issue of food waste, stating that it is not enough to increase production to ensure food security. “Every year, 1.1 billion tons of food are wasted worldwide. Around 17% of food is lost in retail, restaurants, and households, and in some countries, this figure can rise to 40%. Research shows that 75% of food waste could be easily prevented, while 735 million people around the world are struggling with hunger,” he said. He emphasized the need to address food waste and efficient resource use on a global scale. “One in every 10 people is facing a food crisis. Therefore, before increasing production, we need to use the resources we already have in the most efficient way,” Güldal stated. “Protecting agricultural land for future generations is one of our top priorities. If we don’t take necessary precautions, we may reach a point where we can no longer sustain current production levels,” he warned.

DURUM WHEAT IN TMO STOCKS OPENED FOR EXPORT

Güldal reminded international participants that Turkey is the birthplace of wheat and highlighted the crucial role of the Southeastern Anatolia Region in durum wheat production. Emphasizing that this region produces some of the highest quality durum wheat in the world, Güldal noted that Turkey has become an exporter of durum wheat due to significant yield increases in recent years. He also announced that durum wheat in TMO stocks is now available for export.

KAZAKHSTAN’S STRATEGIC ROLE IN GLOBAL TRADE

At the conference, Kazakhstan’s strategic role in global trade was a key topic of discussion. During a session moderated by Sam Katiela, CEO of Mamemo Consulting, Mr. Yerbol Yeleulov, CEO & Founder of Fergus Kazakhstan, highlighted the country’s significance as a vital transit hub between China and Europe. He emphasized Kazakhstan’s ability to facilitate cargo movement in just 14-15 days, compared to the 30-40 days required for sea transport, thanks to its growing logistics infrastructure. The session also explored China’s investments in global trade infrastructure under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with Yeleulov detailing new railway lines and logistics terminals in Kazakhstan that are set to enhance trade efficiency. Looking ahead, he predicted that advancements in logistics technology and infrastructure could bring decades of transformation within just five years. 

THE FUTURE OF BIOFUELS 

A thought-provoking panel discussion at the event explored the role of agriculture in the global energy transition. Peo Ravano, CEO of Quadra Commodities, emphasized the growing importance of agricultural-based energy production as the world shifts toward renewable energy sources. Mr. Ravano noted that biofuels currently account for just three percent of global energy demand but are experiencing rapid growth. He outlined the two main production methods: ethanol derived from corn and sugarcane, widely used in South America and the U.S., and biodiesel produced from soybean, palm, rapeseed, and canola oils. A key concern was the ongoing debate over prioritizing agricultural resources for food versus energy production. Ravano emphasized the importance of utilizing waste oils and organic residues for biofuel rather than essential food crops to maintain food security.

The discussion also addressed the global energy transition, particularly in oil-producing regions. Ravano pointed out that even Middle Eastern nations are investing heavily in renewables, reinforcing the irreversible shift toward sustainability. While the U.S. and South America lead in biofuel mandates, other regions, including parts of Asia and Africa, are lagging. He also highlighted Europe’s strict environmental regulations, which promote renewables but limit large-scale biofuel production due to land constraints. Expressing optimism about biofuels’ future, Ravano cautioned against excessive reliance on agricultural resources for energy at the expense of food security, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to sustainable energy production.