THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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At the International Grain Conference 2025 (IGC), Vince Peterson, President of U.S. Wheat Associates, delivered a striking reality check: Africa will be the epicenter of global wheat demand growth and the world is not yet prepared.
• In 1990, global wheat consumption was 500 million tonnes. Today, it’s 800 million.
• By 2050, we’ll need 1 billion tonnes annually and 1 in every 3 tonnes will be traded internationally.
• Africa already imports 60 million tonnes and consumes over 85 million tonnes of wheat annually.
• By 2050, Africa’s import needs could exceed 100 million tonnes.
He warned that without proactive investment, trade facilitation, and strategic market development, the global supply chain will struggle to meet Africa’s soaring needs.
Beyond wheat, panelists brought forward a wide range of insights touching on trade, infrastructure, and digital transformation.
Ishan Bhanu, Lead Agricultural Commodities Analyst at Kpler: African food security isn’t just about production, it’s about market connectivity, data infrastructure, and port efficiency.
Watipaso Mkandawire, Regional Food Trade Adviser, Africa Programmes and Expertise Department, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Africa’s dietary patterns are shifting rapidly, demanding not just calories but nutrition diversity and affordability.
Rose Souza Richards, Phytosanitary Affairs Manager at International Seed Federation: The digital transformation of seed and grain certification (ePhyto) will be crucial for lowering trade friction and enhancing trust across borders.
Public-private partnerships and regional trade integration emerged as recurring themes, not as ideals, but as operational necessities.
By Namık Kemal Parlak,
Source: The Miller Magazine
