Marking its 20th anniversary, the Turkish Flour Industrialists' Federation (TFIF) orchestrated a momentous gathering, assembling over 1300 delegates at its 18th International Congress and Exhibition in Antalya. Addressing the congress, Haluk Tezcan, the Chairman of the TUSAF Board, proudly announced that in 2023, they achieved an unprecedented milestone by exporting over 3.6 million tons to 166 countries and 6 free trade zones. He emphasized that this is the highest exports of all time. Furthermore, he outlined ambitious goals, stating that the export target for 2024 has been set at an impressive 4 million tons.
Turkish Flour Industrialists' Federation (TFIF), which gathers the companies serving in the flour industry in Turkey under a single roof, held the 18th of its annual international congress and exhibition in Antalya between 15-18 February 2024. With more than 300 members and 8 regional associations, TUSAF, which has been the global export leader in the flour industry for the last 10 years, organized the congress with a different theme every year, this year with the title of 'Global Agricultural Policies, Food and Energy'.
More than 1300 delegates came together at the congress, which featured more than 40 exhibition stands. In the event, which was closely monitored by sector representatives as well as economic circles, issues such as changing global agricultural policies, climate change, drought and new trade dynamics were discussed by experts in their fields. Grain and flour markets, world grain policies and technological transformations in production were discussed in depth at the congress.
‘TURKEY IS THE WORLD'S FLOUR WAREHOUSE’
In his speech at the congress, TUSAF Board Chairman Haluk Tezcan said that 2023 is a year of records for Turkey. Tezcan elaborated, stating, “In addition to the increase in our planting areas, we have reached 21.5 million tons of wheat production, which is the highest wheat production of the last 7 years. In nowadays, when food supply security is one of the biggest threats facing the world, in addition to having strong stocks, Turkey has started to export durum wheat through the Turkish Grain Board after a long time. Thus, we have given signals to the whole world that we will not worry about stocks in the future. Turkey proudly continues to be the world's flour warehouse.”
In addressing the audience, Haluk Tezcan highlighted the robust presence of the flour industry in Turkey, revealing that there are a total of 598 flour factories spread across 69 cities in the country. He further expounded on the sector, stating, “These flour factories have a production capacity of approximately 38 million tons per year. Flour production is one of the most important fields of activity of the agricultural sector in the national economy. In addition, we are one of the most important stakeholders of the agricultural sector in terms of production, labor force, industry, environmental science and sustainability. The regional distribution of Turkey's flour production capacity is generally in line with the regional distribution of the number of enterprises. If we succeed in raising our yield and quality to world standards with increasing production, we can crown our world flour export championship with our own wheat."
Haluk Tezcan emphasized Turkey's prominent standing in the international market within the flour industry, citing superior production technology and product quality. He elaborated, stating, "For the past decade, with steadfast support from our government and affiliated institutions, we have proudly held the title of the world's leading flour exporter. Anticipating a continued upward trajectory, we project our export volume to reach 4 million tons by 2024. Our industry's commitment to staying abreast of evolving technology has significantly contributed to our sustained success in global flour exports."
TRANSFORMATIVE FUTURE FOR TURKISH GRAIN INDUSTRY
Tezcan highlighted the sector's alignment with technological advancements and its pivotal role in maintaining the top position in world flour exports. Addressing future initiatives, he stated, "In alignment with the Green Accord, we are poised to intensify our efforts in the upcoming years, focusing on enhancing quality, improving efficiency, and minimizing our carbon footprint. Through this transformative approach, we anticipate a noteworthy expansion in both the number and variety of our value-added products."
Highlighting the need for innovative approaches in agriculture and food, Haluk Tezcan continued his statement, expressing optimism about the potential impact of the contracted production model. He asserted, "I firmly believe that this innovative model will pave the way for a transformative roadmap in agricultural production, not only within our country but globally. The integration of licensed warehouses, the expanding feed sector, and emerging intermediary institutions in agricultural finance will further complement and strengthen this progressive initiative. Enhanced collaboration between industrialists and producers is paramount to elevating our standing on the international stage."
Tezcan emphasized the importance of fostering cooperation between different stakeholders, stating, "Promoting synergy between industrialists and producers will propel us to new heights in the international arena." Furthermore, he underlined their commitment to supporting small producers through the new contracted production model, stating, "By providing encouragement and economic incentives to small producers, our innovative approach aims to illuminate the path toward establishing a sustainable agricultural model that prioritizes the well-being of our planet."