THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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March, 2025…
Robotics, automation, and AI are reshaping the industry—but are they really solving the fundamental problems of Agriculture? While technology continues to optimize efficiency and reduce labor dependency, a bigger challenge looms:
🔍 Can agriculture truly be sustainable if we focus still on operational efficiency even while we are currently producing more than we consume thanks to the already achieved technological level?
I recently attended FIRA – World Ag Robotics Forum in Toulouse, the world’s unique event dedicated to agricultural robotics 🤖🌾. The theme of this year’s event was “Beyond Regulatory Challenges: What Are the Key Technological Trends for 2025?”. The discussions centered around autonomous farming solutions, particularly agricultural robots and AI-driven machinery, which are rapidly transforming the sector.
🚀 The Rise of Agricultural Robots The event was packed with startups, ranging from pre-seed innovators to scale-ups bringing their robots to market. As we’ve seen in recent trade shows worldwide, agricultural robots are no longer futuristic concepts—they are now commercially available solutions. These machines are designed to replace human labor in intensive tasks, and their adoption is accelerating.
💬 But here’s the real challenge… When speaking with industry experts and startup founders, one common response to the “Why are you developing agricultural robots?” question stood out:
👇 “Because agricultural operations are considered BORING.“
Yes, #BORING. The technological revolution in agriculture has drastically reduced manual labor through advancements in mechanics, biology, and chemistry. The result? Farming has evolved into a profession that largely involves:
- 🚜 Driving tractors
- 🔧 Being a skilled technician
- 👀 Observing nature and crop development
The promises of these tasks are not attractive for drawing young people into farming, and they also appear passive in nature. 🎮 Today’s younger generation can sit comfortably in their city apartments, sipping ☕ coffee while playing Farming Simulator 🌾🚜 on their high-end gaming setups.
Why would they trade that for the unpredictable, physically demanding, and often isolating reality of real farming? In a time when personal development is a priority for the younger generation, can these factors really motivate them to choose this profession?
🧑🌾 The Aging Farmer Crisis The industry is grappling with a major demographic challenge: farmer aging. In many countries, farmland division is restricted, making large-scale farming the only profitable model. As a result, older generations continue to hold the reins, while younger generations lose interest in taking over.
📉 Demographic Change in Global Agriculture According to FAO data, the average age of farmers worldwide is increasing.
- 60% of farmers in the EU are over 55, while only 5% are under 35. (EUROSTAT) Eurostat
- In the US, the average farmer’s age has increased from 50 in the 1980s to 60 today. (FAO Agriculture Census) FAO
- Generational transition in agriculture is slow, and in many countries, the transfer of farms to younger generations is becoming financially and structurally difficult.
📈 Agricultural Production and Stocks Comparison
FAO Cereal Supply and Demand Brief
According to FAO data, global agricultural production has continuously outpaced demand, leading to rising stock levels year after year. The Summary Table from FAO’s latest report reveals that:
- Global cereal production for 2024/25 is projected to reach 2,841 million tonnes, a 0.6% decline from the previous year, yet global cereal stocks continue to rise, reaching record-high levels.
- Rice production has hit an all-time high of 539.4 million tonnes, further contributing to oversupply.
- Cereal utilization is expected to rise by 0.9%, yet stocks are still growing, confirming that we are producing more than we consume.
This trend highlights a key issue: We are producing beyond demand, and without intervention, stockpiles will continue to rise while food prices become increasingly volatile. (FAO) FAO
🔥 As we already achieved to produce more than we consume, then what is the sense to focus on more productivity?
🤔 So, What’s Next? If we compose the two main challenges I’ve highlighted:
1️⃣ Production capacity already exceeds demand—we produce more food than we can consume, leading to price crashes. 2️⃣ The next generation finds farming unappealing—a sector without young talent has no future.
This leads to an important question:
🔥 “Full autonomy” demands “full standardization”! This means more genetic modification, more chemical dependency, and less human involvement. ➡️ Are we sacrificing our food, our land, and ultimately, our humanity for efficiency?
🔥 FINALLY, AS AN ULTIMATE RESULT: ➡️ Is it good or bad for human society in the long run? 🤔🌍\
💡 I will continue writing about this (r)evolution that is about to unfold.
📢 Please do not fasten your seatbelts—accelerate! Otherwise, you will be left behind…
💚 END OF PART 1
💬 What do you think?
💌 If agriculture loses its importance, how will it impact jobs, rural life, urban migration, food quality, and career opportunities in the sector?
By Metin Kaan Uyguntüzel, Ph. D.,
Passionate Entrepreneur in Agriculture & Food Trade | Doctor of Agricultural Machinery | Leader in Agricultural Technologies & Global Food Exports | Innovating Sustainable Solutions for Agriculture and Food Production
