THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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Stating that the increase in plant-based products would be better for greenhouse gas emissions, Bahçeşehir University Head of Gastronomy Department Professor Dr. Y. Birol Saygı said that the food industry will change for a more sustainable world, especially in the name of population growth.
Pointing out that one of the biggest reasons for vegetarianism and veganism is to protect the environment, Dr. Saygı said, “Because 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions arise from animal production. Another problem is how do we raise animals for so many people? Because we need to double the food production by 2050. There are currently 7.8 billion people. We expect this figure to reach 10 billion in the 2050s. The important thing is to provide adequate and quality food.”
“An American lives as if there are 4.9 worlds, whereas in Turkey we live as if there are 1.9 worlds. On average, people live as if there were 1.7 worlds. The UN began to think about how to provide food for so many people and two events emerged. The first is basic income, the other is basic diet. In the basic diet, people need to eat quality and healthy food. That’s why they think about producing more plant-based foods without avoiding from animal food. When we look at the 2021 food trends and general tendencies, there are a number of key points. One of the most important trends is to turn to plant-based foods. In this framework, the food industry would already change,” Dr. Saygı added.
“It is an open sector, but…”
Professor Dr. Birol Saygı also underlined that the way for those who want to invest in vegan and vegetarian products in the sector is open, but that it is necessary to be very careful in terms of taste.
“When you look at the 2020-2025 time frame of plant-based products in market shares, a growth of 30 percent is predicted by all measures. This trend will continue to increase. A certain investment needs to be made, but it is also necessary to reach the taste that the consumer can accept. Therefore, scientific studies should be carried out with a correct prescription. As a matter of fact, it’s definitely an open sector,” Dr. Saygı concluded…
