Miller Magazine Issue: 128 August 2020

64 ARTICLE MILLER / August 2020 self-isolate ourselves for longer periods. This should be rapidly discussed as soon as the coronavirüs pandemic becomes more contained. The bread of the future should be produced by factories of the future. I believe that fully automated factories should be built to produce frozen bread with 100% sourdough. Many next-generation bread producers have had to go out of business these days. But traditional bakers are still wor- king and they have a certain production capacity. Some bakeries are not fully automated. Industry 4.0 bakeries should be on the agenda of the industry. Technology will ensure more hygienic production circumstances. Sour- dough bread is vital for the health of our children. Sour- dough bread is still expensive since they are produced by artisan bakers. But bread factories can produce this type of bread and offer it for an affordable price. I think this is a public health issue. OUR CLOSEST FRIEND: BREAD Now we are well aware of the significance of grains. Even people that are shy away from bread, rushed to the supermarkets to stockpile flour, pasta, and pulses. This is not only the case for Turkey. Throughout the world, most demanded products are flour and grains during the coronavirüs pandemic. This showed how modernized we are, grains, and bread is our closest friend despite some experts’ misinformation campaigns. Now, agricultural policies are as strategic and promi- nent as national se- curity. Being self-suf- ficient in terms of the food supply is a stra- tegic factor. If borders and closed and relati- ons with other nations are cut, health and food supply become vital. Today we feel com- fortable because our grain stocks are full. We feel comfortab- le because we have national seed bree- ders to produce our seeds if border gates are closed to all trade activities. We have already completed seeding activities. We are going to harvest. If we were not strong in agriculture, food shortage would be the case for Turkey. Is this enough? No way! Now it is time for strategic planning. FUTURE OF THE AGRICULTURE IS THE SEED FUTURE OF THE WORLD IS AGRICULTURE… We have to define some topics for the agribusiness to work on as soon as possible. • The National seed breeding sector should be restru- ctured. • Goals of seed breeding should be set. • The production industry should be supported by agricultural technologies • Agricultural production and food production should be planned conjointly. • The infrastructure should be developed for high-va- lue-added agricultural products that fit into dietary mo- dels of the future • Access to food issue should be planned inclusively since healthy nutrition is a fundamental human right • Financial issues should be solved before projects are implemented • Cooperation possibilities of the agriculture industry with defense, technology, trade, health, and education should be planned. The discourse like “let’s sow ancient seeds”, “bake your bread at home” or “don’t eat Israeli tomatoes” will not help us to prepare for the future and to overcome the upcoming virus pandemics, nutrition problems or econo- mic issues.