Antalya Agriculture Prepares for COP31 Climate Summit Accord

September 10, 2026 · Tarım Pusulası

The Antalya Agriculture Council has initiated a comprehensive consensus process to chart the sector's roadmap and secure lasting gains ahead of the COP31 Climate Summit to be held in the city.

COP31 Summit Preparations in Antalya Agriculture

The Antalya Agriculture Council (ATAK) held a broadly attended meeting to determine the expectations of the agricultural sector ahead of the COP31 Climate Summit, scheduled to take place in Antalya from November 9-20. The meeting, hosted by ATAK and Antalya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ATSO) Chairman Ali Çandır, was attended by Antalya Governor Hulusi Şahin, ATSO Chairman Yusuf Hacısüleyman, BAİB Chairman Mehmet Ali Can, Antalya Chamber of Agricultural Engineers Branch Chairman Ebru Kaçın, Antalya Chamber of Agriculture Chairman Nazif Alp, Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Şakir Fırat Erkal, and ANSİAD Chairman Ercan Özbek. The summit aims to translate into lasting gains.

Adaptation and Transformation to Climate Change

Antalya Governor Hulusi Şahin stated that the city has experienced significant changes in water, soil, temperature, and climate conditions over the last 30 years. Pointing out the need for proper management of these changes, Governor Şahin made the following assessment:

'Those who see the change, feel the change, and react accordingly will win; those who are unaware of the change, resist it, or ignore it will lose.'

Şahin noted that the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry is examining the current state of greenhouses and emphasized the importance of the sea and natural resources, warning:

'This sea is our most valuable asset. If we lose the sea, you cannot talk about agriculture, let alone tourism.'

Sector Stakeholders' Expectations for the Next 10 Years

The results of the COP31 ATAK Agriculture Sector Expectation Survey, conducted by ATAK, were shared with the public at the meeting. According to ATAK data, 53% of participants stated they feel climate change directly through water-related events, while 30% attribute it to temperature and extreme weather events. All sector representatives participating in the survey indicated that climate risks would increase in the next 10 years. Furthermore, 70% of participants predicted a decrease in production volume, and 89% foresaw a fundamental shift in planting and production patterns.

Smart Agriculture and Investment Priorities

Survey data revealed that 36% of participants consider the water issue the most urgent agenda item within the scope of COP31. 87% of producers and sector stakeholders identified smart irrigation and smart agriculture applications as areas requiring immediate investment. In the ATAK research, 55% of stakeholders identified the establishment of an international agricultural climate network post-summit as the most critical concrete step. These figures clearly highlight the need for technological transformation.

Working Groups on Three Main Themes

ATAK and ATB Chairman Ali Çandır stated that the summit needs to be crowned with concrete steps and outlined the objectives:

'We need concrete steps to transform COP31 into a lasting legacy for Antalya's agriculture.'

Stating that the work will be organized around three main themes – climate change and water, smart agriculture and artificial intelligence, and climate finance – ATAK and ATB Chairman Ali Çandır outlined the framework of the process with the following words:

'What should we do? Who should do it? How should we do it? How can we make it sustainable after COP31?'

It was announced that the COP31 ATAK Accord will be prepared by seeking answers to these questions.

Agricultural Network for Mediterranean Cities

Highlighting Antalya's superiority in greenhouse production, fruit growing, seed production, seedling production, and cut flowers, Ali Çandır proposed the 'CityMed-AgriNet – Mediterranean Cities Agriculture Network' project. This cooperation model aims to facilitate information sharing among cities in the Mediterranean basin on climate, environment, water, and technology. Çandır emphasized that merely hosting the summit would not be enough, and regional partnerships that enhance agricultural resilience on a Mediterranean scale would play a vital role.

Goal for a Sustainable Agricultural Future

Noting that the process will be carried out through a partnership of public institutions, universities, producers, and the private sector, ATAK and ATB Chairman Ali Çandır pointed to the importance of the summit:

'Just as important as the world coming to Antalya is what legacy Antalya will leave from this grand gathering.'

The reports to be prepared by the established working groups will guide agricultural production even after the summit. At the end of the meeting, the technical preparations for the accord text, which will secure the city's agricultural future, were officially initiated.

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