Turkey holds a strong position as exporter of agrifood products and is one of EIT Food’s RIS countries

The agrifood sector is one of the main drivers of Turkey’s economy

The Turkish food and agriculture industry represents over 7% of the GDP, being a vibrant area with a lot of farmers and quality cultivable land. Moreover, Turkey is the main exporter of agrifood products to the Middle East and central Asia. Specifically, it is the world’s largest producer of hazelnuts, figs, apricots and raisins. And aquaculture is increasingly now a significant subsector of its agrifood economy.

Room for Improvement

Although Turkey has substantial research potential, there is still a relatively low impact of their scientific publications. Furthermore, the Turkish farming sector with its large share of semi-subsistent and fragmented farms could benefit from modernising its up- and downstream industries through smart specialisation strategies. EIT Food can foster innovation by creating connections within Europe and supporting the mechanisation of the agrifood sector.