THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
Related Articles
Press release…
An important panel on ‘City and Agriculture’ was organised by TARPOL, the leading think tank of the agriculture sector, at Ulucanlar Semi-Open Prison Culture and Art Centre hosted by Altındağ Municipality of Ankara on Saturday, 26 April 2025.
The opening speeches of the panel were delivered by M. Mehdi Eker, Chair of TARPOL and Former Minister of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Hasan Suver, Deputy Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change and Professor Dr. Vahit Kirişci, Chair of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) Commission on Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Affairs and former Minister of Agriculture and Forestry along with former TBMM Chair of Commission on Agriculture and Rural Affairs Professor Dr. Yunus Kılıç. Abdurrahman Keleş, Deputy Mayor of Altındağ Municipality, also delivered a speech titled ‘Local Governments, City and Agriculture’.
The speakers drew attention to the rapidly increasing urban population on a global scale, climate change and the risks in food security and emphasised the vital role of agriculture in this process. The speakers also touched upon the problems arising from the detachment of human beings from nature and the decrease in their effectiveness in the food production chain and emphasised the importance of common sense and think tanks such as TARPOL in managing this process. The participants also underlined that scientific and technological solutions can only be possible with the active participation of all relevant parties.
The panel sessions discussed the topic of ‘City Life and Food Security’, focusing on issues related to urbanization and its impact on human life, environment and food systems. The papers presented covered various topics such as alternative solutions for food security, the design and agriculture of new generation cities, the role of agriculture in urban architecture, the effects of climate change on urban life and the use of new technologies in urban agriculture. The session concluded that the rapid urbanization and detachment from rural areas pose significant risks, which can be mitigated through integration into local life, economic-social development, and technology usage.
The second session examined the historical and modern approaches to city and agriculture in Türkiye, highlighting the long-standing tradition of urban agriculture in Anatolia and the damaging effects of rapid urbanization. However, it was noted that local governments have started emphasizing the relationship between city and agriculture and have accumulated experience in this field, although further improvement in planning and technology usage is needed.
Speaking at the closing of the panel, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı pointed out that agriculture is a critical area in development and ensuring food security of the society. Stressing that the key to rural development is ‘rural prosperity’, Yumaklı said that the relationship between the city and agriculture has become an important part of modern life. Drawing attention to the contribution of organisations such as TARPOL in this process, Minister Yumaklı noted that as the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, they continue to work with all sector stakeholders on a positive agenda and that the Agriculture Council is an important example of these efforts…
