THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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A drop of Ayvalık olive oil…
A slice of Kayseri pastrami, a bite of Ezine cheese… A handful of Antep pistachios…
These are not just flavours; they are history, culture, identity and memory.
For centuries, these local products, quietly produced on the fertile lands of Anatolia, were seen as merely regional values. Until one man showed that each of these products is actually the deep memory of these lands:
Professor Dr. Yavuz Tekelioğlu!
Today, among 200 works in Portugal, it made it to the final four, leaving the world’s largest organisations behind and the 2025 Gourmand Awards prize, awarded to YÜCİDERGİ, a 558-page masterpiece, is the second international honour! However, this award is not merely a reward for 30 years of effort; it is a reward for an idea, a spirit of struggle, and most importantly, a life.
Founded in 2012 by agricultural economist Professor Yavuz Tekelioğlu, the Local Products and Geographical Indications Research Network in Türkiye (YÜCİTA) was not merely a scientific initiative; it was a movement to embrace the identity of Anatolia. Tekelioğlu transformed geographical indications from an academic field into a part of the producer’s life, the consumer’s consciousness, and the country’s development strategy.
For him, geographical indications were not just labels; they were the collective signature of the land, climate, labour and culture. He did not merely document this signature; he introduced it to the world. He demonstrated that every product originating from the local region could acquire a universal identity.
Today, Türkiye is showcasing many of its European-registered products on the world stage, following the path he paved.
But perhaps the most meaningful thing was that Tekelioğlu dedicated this great award not to himself, but to the producers who brought these products from the heart of the land…
Last night in Lisbon, 80-year-old Professor Yavuz Tekelioğlu, who was honoured with the Gourmand Awards, the most prestigious award in the world of gastronomy in the geographical indications category, said in his speech, “This award given to me belongs to all the producers around the world who cultivate geographical indication products, who toil the land with their sweat, and who nurture abundance with their labour.” “I dedicate this award to all the producers around the world who sweat for their livelihood!”
These words simply and clearly describe who he is.
Tekelioğlu fought for the yogurt of rural women, the cheese of shepherds on the plateau and the halva of master craftsmen in the town. He uncovered, documented, preserved and brought to their rightful value the history behind a fig and the production knowledge behind a tahini.
Because, in his belief, geographical indications were not just cultural heritage but Türkiye’s future.
YÜCİDERGİ became the encyclopaedia of this labour. Every page was a tribute to Anatolia. And the award it received today is proof that this labour has been recognised by the world.
This victory is not just Yavuz Tekelioğlu’s; it is the victory of the villager who cultivates olives in Aydın, the producer who makes gravyer cheese in Kars and the master who makes baklava in Antep.
This is not just a magazine award; it is the awakening of a nation to its own values.
And now, as I write these lines, I feel proud both as a citizen and as a daughter.
Because Professor Dr. Yavuz Tekelioğlu is my father.
Today, in the sentence where he dedicates this award to all workers, I see both his wisdom and the greatness of his heart.
I know that following in his footsteps is not just about continuing a legacy, but about embracing the essence of this country.
Today, YÜCİDERGİ, which has been honoured with two major international awards, has been brought to life through great effort and a spirit of volunteerism. The members of the Local Products and Geographical Indications Research Network in Türkiye have put in as much effort as my father. They are proof that miracles can be created from the impossible in Türkiye!
Long live YÜCİTA!
Long live Yavuz Tekelioğlu!
By Tuluhan Tekelioğlu,
Source: 12punto.com
