November 21, 2025 – Istanbul, Turkey
Sourcing and Manufacturing in Türkiye’s Essential Seed Sector
Turkey (Türkiye) is a globally recognized and strategically important Supplier in the Seeds and Seedlings sector, providing essential inputs for Agriculture and Landscape projects worldwide. This foundational industry has undergone a major transformation, achieving a crucial Trade surplus and positioning Türkiye as a high-technology Manufacturing hub for agricultural genetics.
- Export Performance: The sector’s total Exports are robust, reaching nearly 490 million dollars in 2024, with imports totaling 364 million dollars, confirming the sector’s net Exports status (foreign trade surplus of 117 percent in seeds). Turkey now Exports seeds to over 121 countries, expanding to 132 when including saplings and ornamental plants.
- Domestic Self-Sufficiency: Turkey produces 97 percent of its seed needs domestically, reducing reliance on foreign Suppliers. This high localization rate is a key component of national food security policy.
- Strategic Goal: The Turkish Seed Union (TÜRKTOB) has set an ambitious target: to place Turkey among the top five seed-exporting countries globally within the next ten years, leveraging the world seed market value of 70 billion dollars.
Investment Focus on Climate Resilience and R&D
Future growth and international Sourcing reliability are entirely dependent on Investment in R&D and climate adaptation, a necessity driven by global warming and shifting weather patterns.
- R&D Priority: The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has emphasized that the seed sector will receive the “biggest Investment in plant production in Turkey’s new century.” This Investment is focused on developing new, high-yield seed varieties that are resistant to drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures.
- Global Recognition: The choice of Istanbul to host the World Seed Congress 2025 underscored Türkiye’s growing role in global Agriculture and Trade discussions, focusing on climate-resilient food systems and battling illegal seed practices.
- FDI and Modernization: International seed companies increasingly choose Turkey for the production of basic and certified seeds—especially hybrid varieties—due to the country’s ideal geographical location and government support. For example, the EBRD has provided a 20 million euro loan to a pioneer seed company to support capital needs and climate adaptation efforts following the 2023 earthquakes.
Expert Opinion and Market Perception
Despite the strong statistical performance, the public perception of the seed sector’s success is a persistent challenge.
Güler, a representative of the Turkish seed sector, emphasized: “While we import the special seeds we need, we also export much more—every year our high-value-added seed Exports boost, but the success of the industry is overshadowed by the perception that the country is dependent on foreign countries. We are working to engage in commercial activities in growing regions like Asia and expand our current markets in the EU and Russia.”
This perception gap highlights a crucial area for Trade education. While overall crop production forecasts for 2025 show significant declines in many categories due to drought and climate change—with fruits expected to contract by more than 30 percent (Internal Link: Fresh Produce: Tomato & Citrus Exports Face Climate Risk)—the seed sector remains the long-term solution, offering climate-resilient genetics.
The Economy’s ability to manage external factors, such as high procurement prices set by the Turkish Grain Board to protect farmers, is critical for stabilizing the Supply Chain and maintaining global price competitiveness (Internal Link: Grains & Pasta: Milling Power & Bulgur Exports).
Next Steps for Global Agricultural Buyers
For international Agriculture firms and large-scale farming enterprises, Turkey / Türkiye offers a high-quality, scientifically advanced Sourcing hub for certified seeds and specialized seedlings, essential for future food security and climate-resilient production.
For expert guidance on Sourcing certified seed varieties, facilitating R&D Investment, and establishing Manufacturing partnerships in Turkey’s strategic Agriculture sector, contact the experts at Burc Consulting.
