THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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The Investment Centre of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), has launched Digital Technologies for Agriculture in Türkiye showcasing how AgTech solutions – from smart irrigation to traceability and e-commerce – are poised to enhance productivity and sustainability in Türkiye.
The publication identifies the most promising AgTech solutions and assesses their current and potential uptake, along with barriers to adoption, and the supporting ecosystem.
It provides a roadmap for scaling technology uptake and shaping new investments that enhance productivity, sustainability, and resilience in Türkiye’s agrifood sector.
“Digital technologies are innovations, that if combined and brought to scale, can transform agrifood systems making them more resilient and sustainable. This report offers critical insights to guide investments and policy actions that support Türkiye’s farmers and investors along the agrifood value chains,” said Mohamed Manssouri, FAO Investment Centre Director.
With insights gathered from over 120 stakeholders, the report provides insights into practical use cases of various digital and smart technologies, their main benefits and limitations experienced by users. It reflects the perspectives of a broad range of technology providers and users along the agrifood system.
“Our shared commitment to agricultural innovation underscores the value of this study. Investment in AgTech can accelerate Türkiye’s agricultural transformation, helping farmers become leaders in a competitive, sustainable future,” said Nemanja Grgic, EBRD Associate Director, Corporate Sector Advisory.
Digital adoption landscape…
The report illuminates Türkiye’s current agricultural landscape and its transition toward digitally enabled, more resilient farming practices.
Türkiye’s rich agricultural sector contributes 5.5 percent of GDP and employs 17 percent of the total employment. However, economic fluctuations, resource constraints, and an ageing farming workforce pose substantial challenges, exacerbated by climate change.
Digital agriculture is expanding among larger, high-value farms. Technologies like climate control systems and the Internet of Things, which uses devices to track soil moisture and temperature, help farmers manage resources more precisely.
Yet, Türkiye’s agriculture is dominated by small and medium farms, which face unique constraints in adopting advanced technologies. While high-value sectors such as orchards and greenhouse farming are beginning to adopt precision tools, smaller farms lag behind, hindered by costs and limited accessibility of such technologies .
Digital tools for crop monitoring, disease prediction, and resource efficiency, remain out of reach for most small-scale farmers, indicating a need for accessible, tailored technologies and delivery models.
Investing in AgTech…
Ramping up investments in local AgTech startups – the report advocates – could help Türkiye scale these technologies.
Although Türkiye has a growing tech sector, AgTech ventures struggle to secure financing and resources, as existing startup programs prioritize other industries.
The report outlines key steps for building a digitally inclusive farming ecosystem in Türkiye, emphasizing investments in technology development, field testing, and blended finance for AgTech startups. It also stresses the importance of collaborating with farmers to develop and test new technologies, supported by tailored programs and long-term funding to ensure advanced tools reach more farms.
It calls for targeted support to AgTech startups through programs like Türkiye’s Tech-InvesTR, alongside financing initiatives that prioritize smaller farms, women-led agribusinesses, and MSMEs, to drive inclusive digitization.
“To drive technology adoption among farmers and value chain actors, financial incentives like matching grants for eco-friendly technologies are essential,” said Viorel Gutu, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia. “This important report also underscores how investment in awareness-raising and training will bolster Türkiye’s leadership in sustainable agriculture.”
To improve data use, a shared data repository integrating public and private data, with open standards and privacy safeguards, could support precision farming and build trust for sector-wide decision-making. While the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has digitized many services, separate databases currently limit unified data use.
Building trust in digital tools also calls for quality assurance protocols and grievance channels for reporting underperforming technologies. Capacity building for farmers is essential, with recommendations for knowledge-sharing platforms and training programs to improve effective use of digital tools.
“By fostering accessible and impactful AgTech adoption, Türkiye can cultivate a thriving digital agriculture sector that benefits both large and small-scale farmers and agribusiness companies – strengthening food security, sustainability, and resilience,” said Iride Ceccacci, EBRD Head of Corporate Sector Advisory.
With insights and recommendations tailored to Türkiye’s unique context, Digital Technologies for Agriculture in Türkiye makes a strong case for coordinated public-private investment and action…
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