Vision and Missions of the Turkey’s Seed Sector Kazım Abak 2 nd International Workshop on Seed Business Antalya 2-3 December 2013

Agriculture It is a startegic and indispensible sector in both developed and developing countries Primary source of food Primary source of fibre Raw material source for energy (bio-fuel) Locomotive of economical development Strategically important for food and energy security Sociologically crucial

New trends in global agricultural sector Developments in production technologies Increase in input use and input costs Very high increase in food prices Increase in international crop trade Rise in the consumer’s power of paying Increase in quality expectations Higher demand to bio-energy crops

New modern production technologies More than 20% of the Turkish vegetable production is through under cover cultivation !

New trends in global agricultural sector Developments in production technologies Increase in input use and input costs Very high increase in food prices Increase in international crop trade Rise in the consumer’s power of paying Increase in quality expectations Higher demand to bio-energy crops

Grafted seedling production for vegetable growing Increase in input use and imput

New trends in global agricultural sector Developments in production technologies Increase in input use and input costs Very high increase in food prices Increase in international crop trade Rise in the consumer’s power of paying Increase in quality expectations Higher demand to bio-energy crops

Price increases in food and non-food products

New trends in global agricultural sector Developments in production technologies Increase in input use and input costs Very high increase in food prices Increase in international crop trade Rise in the consumer’s power of paying Increase in quality expectations Higher demand to bio-energy crops

Increase in demande of quality

New trends in global agricultural sector Developments in production technologies Increase in input use and input costs Very high increase in food prices Increase in international crop trade Rise in the consumer’s power of paying Increase in quality expectations Higher demand to bio-energy crops

Seeds The basis of agriculture The most ancient input in agriculture The most important input in agriculture A properly produced high quality seed, per se, can provide 50% yield increase It is impossible to practice modern agriculture to obtain high yield and good quality crop without using high quality seeds

New trends in seed business Rises in the production and use of certified seeds Growth in international seed trade Increase in the accessibilty to new cultivars by growers Increase in the use of F1 hybrides (new crops) Increase in the rate of variety shift (shortening the life) Increase in demand to the varieties having special agronomical and technological traits Increase in the use of transgenic varieties Decrease in number of companies, but increase in their sizes

Global international seed trade

New trends in seed business Rises in the production and use of certified seeds Growth in international seed trade Increase in the accessibilty to new cultivars by growers Increase in demand to the varieties having special agronomical and technological traits Increase in the rate of variety shift (shortening the life) Increase in the use of F1 hybrides (new crops) Increase in the use of transgenic varieties Decrease in number of companies, but increase in their sizes

New trends in seed business Rises in the production and use of certified seeds Growth in international seed trade Increase in the accessibilty to new cultivars by growers Increase in demand to the varieties having special agronomical and technological traits Increase in the rate of variety shift (shortening the life) Increase in the use of F1 hybrides (new crops) Increase in the use of transgenic varieties Decrease in number of companies, but increase in their sizes

New trends in seed business Rises in the production and use of certified seeds Growth in international seed trade Increase in the accessibilty to new cultivars by growers Increase in the use of F1 hybrides (new crops) Increase in the rate of variety shift (shortening the life) Increase in demand to the varieties having special agronomical and technological traits Increase in the use of transgenic varieties Decrease in number of companies, but increase in their sizes

Status in transgenic varieties Countries producing transgenic 28 (8+20) Total population of this countries 4 billion (60%) Number of growers 17.3 million Annual planting area 170 million ha Accumulative planted area 1.5 billion ha Annual increase rate 6-10% Annual production value 98.2 billion USD

New trends in seed business Rises in the production and use of certified seeds Growth in international seed trade Increase in the accessibilty to new cultivars by growers Increase in the use of F1 hybrides (new crops) Increase in the rate of variety shift (shortening the life) Increase in demand to the varieties having special agronomical and technological traits Increase in the use of transgenic varieties Decrease in number of companies, but increase in their sizes

Global structure of seed business (Howard 2009)

Shares of the companies in World seed trade

Expected events for near future Growth in world economy Globalization both for consumers and producers Increase in certified seed use and seed market Increase in international trade (imputs and products) Increase in the use of hybrid cultivars Increase in the use of transgenic cultivars Increase in social and environmental responsibility Change of climatic conditions (global warming)

Problems coming with global warming - Reduction in the amount of usable water/drought - Salinity - Arisal of new pests and disease - Changes in crop pattern

Importance of R&D in seed business Seed industry is the sector in which R&D spending is the highist For industry share of the R&D spending must be at least 2% In EU R&D spending is up to 20% of the total turnover In these countries percentage of R&D employees in total employees is 25% (12500/52000) (ESA Scholte, 2013)

R&D in seed business Breeding Registration Production Certification Market preparation Marketing Storage

Goals for future breeding programs More resistance to pest and diseases Tolerance to abiotic stress factors (low and high temperatures, salinity, druoght, high moisture, nutrient deficiency etc) More tolerance to herbicides Improvement of crop quality Better nutritive values Development of male sterility

Needs for R&D for seed business Vision Well formed breeders and assistant personel Plant material Money Collobaration-organization

Research institutions Universities Public Research Instituts National Private Research Organizations Private Research Units International Research Organizations

R&D in private sector 30% of companies has research activity 35% of them has only adaptation trials 35% has also plant breeding programs They develope new OP and hybrids and sell in domestic and foreign markets More breeding programs on vegetables than field crops More and more collobaration with TÜBİTAK and universities

In public research instituts Public institutes spread across the country Works are focused on plant breeding Well researchers staff exists but not sufficient Activities on vegetables are more dynamic than the field crops in recent years

In universities Well formed qualified staff existance In some of them very good ınfrastructure Cooperation with private companies is insufficient Assistant staff (engineer, laborant, technicien, research assistant) is insufficient Very heavy lecture occupation, no enough time for R&D

Basic Research Applied Research Line Preparation Variety Development Variety Release R&D activities and financing responsibilities of public and private sectors in plant breeding Market Growth Commercialization (PRIVATE SECTOR) Before commercialization (PUBLIC SECTOR) Private sector Public sector

Three important things Easy access to plant genetic resources Utilization of biotechnology for more effective and fast plant breeding Qualified breeder and assistant staff

Educational activities towards Associate personnel (Associate degree) Technical personnel (BS/BA) Ms and Doctoral degrees On-duty continuing education

Conclusion In Turkey, the share allocated to R & D activities in total turnover is quite small for seed sector Increase the effectiveness in the international arena without R&D investment is not possible Number of company is very high, financial situation of small firms is not sufficient for R&D Inter-institution and/or inter-company collaboration is imperative Professionals organization (union) must establish its own R & D center This center can also be used for educational purposes

Thank you