THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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Mesut Çakmak, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Flour Industrialists Federation (TUSAF), speaking at the IDMA Global Grain & Milling Forum in Istanbul, which brought together leading representatives of the global grain trade and milling industry, stated that Türkiye stands out globally in milling not only with its production and export capacity but also with its technological and engineering expertise. Pointing to the expectation of record production in the 2026 harvest season, Çakmak said, “Last season we managed scarcity, this season we will manage abundance.”
Çakmak emphasized that IDMA, which brings together international industry stakeholders in the fields of grain, flour, pasta, feed and milling technologies, is not just a commercial gathering but a showcase of a large ecosystem where agriculture, industry, technology and exports come together. “IDMA has become one of the most important organizations in the world in the field of milling and food processing technologies,” Çakmak said.
‘WE MANAGED SCARCITY IN 2025, WE WILL MANAGE ABUNDANCE IN 2026’
In his speech, the Chair of TUSAF devoted considerable attention to the 2026 harvest season, noting that the sector is going through an extremely important period. Stating that they “managed scarcity” in the 2025 season due to drought and frost, together with all sector stakeholders, primarily TMO (Turkish Grain Board), Çakmak said that in the 2026 season, they will “manage abundance” with high production expectations. Çakmak also stated that wheat production is expected to reach 23-24 million tonnes this year.
Drawing attention to the strategic nature of wheat, Çakmak said, “Wheat is not just a product, but also a strategic security element.”
“Türkiye has one of the most developed milling infrastructures in the world and that the country has been among the leading countries in the world flour trade for many years and is also a global player in pasta, bulgur and semolina products,” he explained.
‘TÜRKİYE IS A WORLD LEADER IN MILLING MACHINERY EXPORTS’
Pointing out that the country’s achievements in the milling industry are not limited to the export of finished products, Çakmak stated that Turkish firms are now exporting technology. “Türkiye’s machinery exports reached approximately 28.7 billion dollars in 2025, with milling machinery exports reaching approximately 420 million dollars, placing it first in the world,” Çakmak said.
“Turkish milling machinery sector not only sells machinery but also develops projects, builds facilities, provides training, installs automation systems and shares its expertise globally. Furthermore, Turkish firms have established turnkey facilities in Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East, South America and many other regions,” he noted.
Touching upon the key competitive areas of the coming period, Çakmak added, “Digitalization, AI-supported production systems, energy efficiency, sustainable production and reducing carbon footprint will be among the most important areas for the sector.”
Underlining that TUSAF will continue to work with producers, industrialists, exporters and public institutions to enhance Türkiye’s global competitiveness, Çakmak concluded, “Without strong agriculture, there is no strong industry; without strong industry, there is no strong exports and without strong exports, there is no strong economy.”
