Germany wants to improve its trade in organic products with Türkiye

Germany is our country’s most important commercial partner and one of the countries to which we export the most as of 2023.

In order to strengthen the Turkish-German commercial relations that have been going on for more than 100 years and to create new cooperation opportunities, the German-Turkish Economy Day event on Food was organized in partnership with the Ankara Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Aegean Exporters’ Association.

Following the event, bilateral business meetings were held with the participation of Turkish and German companies.

Germany, the EU’s largest buyer, is interested in developing trade in organic products with Türkiye

Noting that there is a great demand for Turkish foods in Europe, Ralf Schröer, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Izmir, said: “Turkey is a strong market in agricultural production. Especially in fruits and vegetables. In 2024, a growth of 5.6 percent in vegetables and 3.4 percent in fruits is expected. Organic products are very important for the EU market. Flour, hazelnuts and sunflower oil stand out in our exports to Türkiye. However, we want to focus on food products produced in the Aegean Region. Germany, the EU’s largest buyer, is interested in developing trade in organic products with Türkiye. We want to develop our cooperation at all stages of the supply chain, not only in food production, but also in food processing and logistics. The Turkish food market creates new opportunities. There is great demand for gluten-free foods and sugar-free products in Germany. Türkiye is an important market for gluten-free foods and sugar-free products. A new application has been launched in Germany. Businesses larger than 250 square meters are required to offer gluten-free food in their menus. “This could be an opportunity for Türkiye.” said.

Foreign trade volume between Türkiye and Germany is at the level of 50 billion dollars

Aegean Exporters’ Association Coordinator President Jak Eskinazi said, “Our association is a dynamic and growing association that exports to 215 countries and regions with 12 different sectors and over 7,500 members. While Turkey exported agricultural products worth 35 billion dollars with an increase of 2.8 percent in 2023, the Aegean Exporters’ Association became the champion of Turkey by realizing 20 percent of Turkey’s agricultural product exports alone with an export of 7.3 billion dollars with an increase of 8.8 percent. As the Aegean Region, the agricultural warehouse of the world, we maintained our leadership in 2023. This positive trend continues in 2024. We predict that we will reach 10 billion dollars of agricultural exports in Turkey in the coming period, with high technology investments and sustainability vision. While Turkey achieved exports of 255 billion 800 million dollars in 2023, we exported 21 billion 79 million dollars to Germany, the economic engine of Europe.” said.

President Eskinazi said, “Türkiye imported 28.6 billion dollars from Germany in 2023. The foreign trade volume between Türkiye and Germany is at the level of 50 billion dollars. When we look at the self-sufficiency rates of the country in food items in Germany; While only 13% of the fruit, 27% of fish/seafood, 28% of vegetable oils, 38% of vegetables needed in Germany are produced in Germany, 153% of sugar, 148% of potatoes, 126% of cheese is produced in Germany. We have 2 billion dollars of food exports to Germany annually. I don’t think this number reflects our true potential. We know that the potential between the two countries is greater and we take our steps within this framework. “We have been organizing the Turkish National Participation Organization for the BioFach Fair held in Nuremberg, Germany, for a quarter of a century.” he said.

Jak Eskinazi said, “In 2023, our food exports to Germany will be 43.2 percent in the fresh fruit and vegetable sector, 24 percent in the olive and olive oil sector, 21 percent in grains, pulses, oil seeds and products, and 17 percent in aquaculture and livestock products.” We achieved an increase of 9 percent in fruit and vegetable products, 8 percent in fruit and vegetable products, and 2 percent in hazelnuts and their products. In the first four months of 2024, there was a decline in Turkey’s trade with Germany. We exported 6 billion dollars to Germany, with a decrease of 5 percent. Our food exports increased by 10 percent to 748 million dollars. Especially Izmir is a city where sectoral diversity and richness is at its peak. “We are a strong player in the world in dried fruits, manufactured goods, olive-olive oil, aquatic products, spices, tobacco, non-wood forest products and organic production.” said.

National Seed Gene Bank established in Izmir is one of the first gene banks in the world.

President Eskinazi said, “Turkey’s most important seed bank, the National Seed Gene Bank, was established within the Aegean Agricultural Research Institute in 1964 in the agricultural city and export city of Izmir. This gene bank is also one of the first gene banks in the world. More than 55 thousand seed samples belonging to 3 thousand 339 species are stored in the National Seed Gene Bank, ready for use in today’s and future herbal research. New investments that serve the Sustainable Development Goals are made every year in Izmir, a leading region in agriculture. Dikili Agriculture-Based Specialized Organized Industrial Zone, which is the largest modern greenhouse and agricultural industry cluster in Europe and Turkey, of which we are stakeholders, and the Agriculture-Based Specialized Floriculture Organized Industrial Zone established in Bayındır will reveal a significant potential.” he said.

We rank 7th among the countries from which the European Union imports the most.

Eskinazi said, “Agriculture-Based Specialized Dairy Organized Industrial Zone established in Bergama and Plant Production Agriculture-Based Specialized Organized Industrial Zone established in Kınık for seed and seedling medicinal and aromatic plants are a great advantage for our country in this period when concerns about food are increasing all over the world. 75 percent of Turkey’s organic product exports are from the Aegean Region. We are in the 7th place among the top importing countries of the European Union, which imports nearly 3 million tons of organic products annually. Our goal is to be among the top three in this list. The Turkish organic sector is a sector that has adapted to the European Green Deal targets. It has approximately 35 years of experience in Turkey’s organic sector. That’s why, as Turkish organic exporters, we aspire to be the number one supplier in Europe.” said.

We started organic farming with German discipline

Aegean Exporters’ Associations Organic Products and Sustainability Coordinator and Aegean Dried Fruits and Products Exporters’ Association President Mehmet Ali Işık said, “We are increasing our organic agriculture exports day by day. The most important issue is the creation of a trade chain that ensures food safety. We started organic farming with German discipline. We started with the discipline of German control companies. This is the basis for the success of our cooperation with Germany. German Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir clearly conveyed to the world public that Germany and the European Union decided to increase organic production by 30 percent after the pandemic. This decision is a radical change in the dynamics of the country. “Our priority will be to protect our lands and ensure sustainability in healthy food production.” said.

We are proud to be the healthy product supplier of Europe and the world

President Işık said, “Organic agriculture; It is a form of agriculture that ensures sustainability, traceability from field to shelf, and food safety. We carry out very important work with all our stakeholders in our country. We are proud to be the healthy product supplier of Europe and the world. We will continue this with international certificates. We are the coordinator union in sustainability. The beginning of organic agriculture is the Aegean Region and Izmir. The Aegean Region is the center of organics. Turkey has an extensive organic infrastructure. We provide training to farmers. Supervision mechanisms should be established for cooperatives. There are hundreds of independent consultancy firms in the EU. In our case, companies have undertaken this. This needs to be organised. Dried fruits were included in the category of healthy products by the World Health Organization. As EİB, we are the dynamism and center of agriculture in Turkey. “Organic agriculture is a great commitment for us, we have a history of 35 years.” he said.

In the new system, digital certificates will be printed after control reports are entered through the Organic Agriculture Information System.

Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Head of Ecological Agriculture Department Dr. Başak Egesel said, “Turkey’s first chamber of commerce abroad was established in Germany. Our ties with Germany are very strong. Organic products are becoming more important every year. Germany ranks first in our trade. Recently, food, climate crisis, water and energy issues have become very important in the world. We are making production planning in Turkey. We manage agriculture professionally. Organic agriculture is a priority for us. Our country has serious measures in the European Green Deal process. The goal of our Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is; planned production, sustainability of production, increasing quality along with efficiency, ensuring food supply security in our country by taking into account the demands of other countries, utilizing empty agricultural lands, waste management. We developed a new support model. All of our development plans and strategic plans are carried out taking into account the European Green Deal process. We carry out organic agriculture within the framework of the law. We carry out inspections under the responsibility of our Ministry. There is an accreditation requirement when granting authority. One hundred percent control obligation