"THE AGRICULTURAL-FOOD SYSTEM REQUIRES A COMPLETE TRANSFORMATION"
Speaking at the 'Agriculture, Food, and Media' panel dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Republic, United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Türkiye Project Manager and Communication Specialist Kıvanç Özcan pointed out the threats faced by today's agricultural systems, stating, "The agricultural-food system needs a complete transformation from top to bottom."
On the occasion of the Republic's centennial, the panel titled 'Continuing Atatürk's Renaissance in the 100th Year of Our Republic: Agriculture, Food, and Media' event organized at Yeditepe University. This event was a collaboration between the University's Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, the Department of Agricultural Trade and Business, the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Agricultural Journalists and Writers Association (TAGYAD), and the Turkish Agronomists Association (TZD). Held on October 16, World Food Day, the panel discussed the problems related to agriculture worldwide and the necessary steps for developing agriculture in Türkiye and globally.
The panel, attended by numerous students, was opened with a speech by Yeditepe University Rector Prof. Dr. Canan Aykut Bingöl. Prof. Bingöl's words are as follows: "In the 100th year of our Republic, it is an honor for us to come together at such meetings. I especially thank our professors. They bring us together to solve one of the world's biggest and most important issues by taking even more advanced steps in the first-ever Department of Agricultural Trade and Business in Türkiye."
"AGRICULTURE AND FOOD: THE RISING VALUE OF OUR CENTURY"
In the panel moderated by Assistant Prof. Dr. Derya Nil Budak, Vice Chair of the Department of Agricultural Trade and Business at Yeditepe University, the first session addressed "Agriculture and Food: The Rising Value of Our Century." The second session focused on "Agriculture and Food in Media." The speakers included Prof. Dr. Metin Turan, Chair of the Department of Agricultural Trade and Business at Yeditepe University; Kıvanç Özcan, FAO Türkiye Project Manager and Communication Specialist; Dr. Erhan Ekmen, Vice President of the Turkish Agronomists Association (TZD) and Agricultural Economist; Mehmet Efe, Board Member of the Agricultural Journalists and Writers Association (TAGYAD), Agricultural Engineer and Agricultural Writer; and Taner Öztürk, Member of TAGYAD and News Anchor at Agro TV.
"OUR AGRICULTURE-FOOD SYSTEM IS UNDER THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE"
FAO Türkiye Project Manager and Communication Specialist Kıvanç Özcan highlighted the threats faced by current agriculture-food systems. "Our agriculture-food system has increasingly been under the impact of climate change in recent years. In addition, conflicts seen around the world today directly affect food security and supply chains. Economic shocks and the regional inequalities created by the post-COVID-19 recovery also impact agriculture-food systems. Moreover, extreme weather events or climate extremes related to climate change are threatening agriculture-food systems." Finally, Özcan explained that rapid population growth and uneven urbanization threaten the agriculture and food sectors.
"COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS ARE CRUCIAL FOR BRINGING ABOUT TRANSFORMATION"
Kıvanç Özcan, highlighting the need for a complete overhaul of the agricultural-food system, continued, "This transformation is not something that governments, individuals, or international organizations can achieve alone. Therefore, the first and foremost measure to be taken is collaboration. Secondly, governments must increase agricultural investments and focus more on vulnerable populations and groups. These include women and children living in rural areas, forcibly displaced people, and refugees around the world. Investments targeting these groups need to be increased. Additionally, the private sector should also be involved in these steps."
"THE MEDIA IS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO TAKE ACTION"
Özcan, pointing out the importance of media activities in agriculture, said, "Media activities are precious and meaningful because they call people worldwide to action on hunger and food insecurity issues. For this reason, we spend not just October 16, World Food Day, but the entire month of October conducting various activities to drive this mobilization." “
“TÜRKİYE'S GROWTH IN THE SECOND CENTURY CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH AGRICULTURE”
Mehmet Efe, who is an Agricultural Engineer, journalist, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Agricultural Journalists and Writers Association (TAGYAD), highlighted the significance of agriculture for Türkiye and the world. He stated, "Our great leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk recognized this 100 years ago, and during the Republic's first century, he invested in agriculture to advance the newly established Republic. Even today, in the second century, Türkiye's development and growth can only be achieved through agriculture and agriculture-based industry."
"VILLAGES: THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTERS"
Efe also highlighted the importance of information transfer in the food system. "From the past to today, since Göbeklitepe, we have been transferring bread making, cheese making and weaving from generation to generation through communication. I think communication is crucial in the food system, and societies should further develop this knowledge while passing it on from generation to generation."
Assistant Prof. Dr. Derya Nil Budak stated, "Our panel revolved around the discussion of agriculture and food, which are the rising values of our century. We also discussed the debates on agriculture and food frequently brought up in the media. We think that the panel was productive and delightful, and we celebrated World Food Day and the 100th anniversary of our Republic with our stakeholders in a significant way."