Turkey Eyes Top Five in Global Seed Industry
· AA Tarım & Ekonomi
Ahead of the International Asia Seed Congress to be held in Antalya, TÜRKTOB announced that Turkey aims to rank among the top 5 in global seed trade.
International Seed Summit in Antalya
An important organization is being realized in cooperation with the Turkish Seed Union (TÜRKTOB) and the Turkish Seed Industry Association (TÜRKTED), under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The International Asia Seed Congress (ASC 2026), organized by the Asia Pacific Seed Association (APSA), will be held in Turkey for the first time in Antalya from December 1-5. TÜRKTOB Chairman Kayhan Yıldırım stated that the congress holds historical significance in bridging Asia and Europe and will strengthen the sector's international standing.
Strategic Location and Global Market Share
Asia-Pacific countries constitute 30% of the global seed market, which is approximately $70 billion in size. Drawing attention to Turkey's geographical advantage, TÜRKTOB Chairman Kayhan Yıldırım made the following assessment:
"As we are at the very center of Central Asia, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, our seed industry is very important here. Such congresses will be a major factor in our becoming not just a transit point for seeds, but a seed hub."
Top Five Target in Seed Exports
Evaluating the sector's foreign trade figures, Kayhan Yıldırım noted that the seed export-to-import coverage ratio, which was 108% in 2018, has reached 141% today. Stating that seeds are currently sold to 117 countries, and this number exceeds 130 countries when ornamental plants, seedlings, and saplings are included, TÜRKTOB Chairman Kayhan Yıldırım explained the sector's global growth target with the following words:
"Turkey ranks 10th in the world in terms of seed production. Our future goal is to further develop our seed industry and move our country towards the top 5."