Miller Magazine Issue: 148 April 2022

93 INTERVIEW MILLER / APRIL 2022 While we have the luxury of postponing all our needs except health and food, human beings have to meet their food and drink needs in every situation. The restrictions imposed by the coun- tries on the export of agricultural products in this process and the closing of borders showed the significance of self-sufficiency in agriculture and food. The situation that broke out due to the war between Russia and Ukraine once again proved this fact. As an agricultural country, Turkey will be able to use its ad- vantages much better if it uses its soils more efficiently, take ad- vantage of it with more value-added products, supports farmers more, and realized the return to agriculture together with indus- trialists and sector stakeholders. We believe that consolidation in management is essential for the full use of our country’s agricultural potential. In addition to land consolidation, consolidation should also be performed in agricultural production. In addition, to me, the production of puls- es that nourish the soil, increase its productivity and need less water has to be encouraged. With the incentives and supports to be provided to the industry in this regard, it is important to establish a structure where contracted production will provide guarantees for both farmers and industrialists. The government must assume the role of arbitrator, and know-how and capital have to be brought together with the soil and the farmer by the virtue of the industrialist. There is a severe migration to cities in Anatolia, especially in rural areas. The aging of the farmer population, the low interest of young people in agricultural production and the concentra- tion of the population in the cities are all important problems before us. At this point, the country’s total supply and demand balance increases the risks in terms of feeding its citizens and supplying its basic products. Climate-induced risks such as drought also trigger this. As in the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war, international risks are also increasing. It seems that these risks will increase more for countries that cannot produce and meet their own needs in the upcoming period. Countries like Turkey have the potential and the opportunity to produce in higher amounts. Food security and supply will continue to be one of the most strategic issues in the world in the forthcoming years. How can the private sector contribute to sustainable agricultural production? We, as Yayla Agro Gıda, will contribute to the production mo- bilization throughout Anatolia in the upcoming period in order to increase contracted production and secure our supply. Food safety risks have increased the need to take care of agricul- ture, land and farmers. Agriculture is measured by the capac- ity of know-how and capital to meet the soil. In all developed countries, agriculture is at a very advanced and successful level, as know-how and capital meet the soil very strongly. In Turkey, our industrialists have to turn their faces to the soil more. We, as Yayla Agro Gıda, aim to be one of the pioneers of this in the upcoming period. How do you see the future of the pulses industry? The pulses industry is expected to increase its growth mo- mentum and maintain its importance in the coming years. There is a worldwide trend towards plant protein and healthier and sustainable foods. Since pulses are a valuable source of plant protein, their consumption rates are increasing. In scientific re- search, pulses are defined as “valuable food” with their low calo- ries, high protein values and high fiber contents. Today, when we feel the negative effects of global warming and climate change, pulses, which are a plant protein source, offer significant advan- tages compared to animal protein sources in terms of environ- mental effects. The amount of greenhouse gas emissions of animal-derived proteins is approximately 400 times higher than that of plant proteins. In order to reduce our carbon footprint, use water resources efficiently and leave good traces for the future of our planet, we need to reconsider our dietary preferences and make more room for pulses products on our tables. Within the framework of our mission of “Building the Healthy Generations of the Future”, we regard it as a responsibility to- wards the society to develop products aimed at increasing the consumption of pulses in accordance with the health, conve- nience, practicality and availability criteria brought by today’s consumption habits.