THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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The 7th International Poultry Meat Congress (UBEK-7), organised by the Association of Poultry Meat Producers and Breeders (BESD-BİR) since 2011, was held in Antalya between 16-20 April 2025. More than 870 scientists and industry stakeholders from 33 countries, including agricultural, veterinary, food engineers and medical doctors, attended Türkiye’s largest and only congress with international participation in the sector. The congress hosted 19 sessions and 3 satellite symposiums for three days, with a total of 22 sessions, 76 papers and 59 poster presentations.
13 percent spike in white meat production expected in 10 years…
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Naci Kaplan, Chair of BESD-BİR, stated that the association, which has always been operating by prioritising science since its establishment, has always used scientific data to develop the sector and bring it to the present day.
“We think that it is very important for us to benefit our sector by producing information as well as producing products,” Kaplan said.
Highlighting that according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) data, 146 million tonnes of poultry meat, which corresponds to almost 40 percent of the total 356 million tonnes of meat production in the world, Naci Kaplan explained, “In the same report, it is stated that poultry farming has the lowest carbon footprint compared to other livestock breeding areas. Worldwide production of poultry meat is expected to surge by 13 percent in the next decade due to increasing demand and it is expected to continue to be the most produced protein-based food among other animal food products.”
Exports to 92 countries in 2024…
“In 1995, poultry meat production in Türkiye, which ranked 9th in the global white meat production ranking, was 316 thousand tonnes and per capita consumption was 5 kilograms,” Kaplan noted, “Today, poultry meat production has reached 2 million 565 thousand tonnes. Of this, 2 million 512 thousand tonnes is chicken meat and 53 thousand tonnes is turkey meat.”
“Poultry meat exports were 409 thousand tonnes in 2024, excluding chicken feet and exports were made to 92 countries. It is the expectation of the sector that the foreign markets, which have been obtained with the labour of many years, will be maintained without any restrictions,” Kaplan added…
