Kerevitaş/Özesenli: Offering Purchase Guarantees, Advances, and Seed Support to Women Farmers

At the 10th Sustainable Food Summit organized in collaboration with the Turkish Food Industry Employers' Union (TÜGİS) and the Sustainability Academy, Özhan Nuri Özesenli, General Manager of Supply Chain and Purchasing at Kerevitaş (IS: KERVT), spoke during the panel titled "Accelerating Agricultural and Food Transformation with Innovative Approaches." He stated, "We are aware of the potential of women in agriculture. Through the Women Stars of Agriculture Project, we provide advance payments and seed support to our farmers alongside purchase guarantees. We aim to invest more in this project, which we also had the opportunity to present at the United Nations."

The Sustainable Food Summit, now in its tenth year and focusing on the theme of "Transformation for the Future of Food," has successfully completed its first day with a broad audience participation aimed at developing a common vision and strategy for redesigning the food chain. During the panel, which brought together all stakeholders from the sector, including academia, finance, industry, business, media, SMEs, and NGOs, Özesenli emphasized, "As a leading brand in frozen food, Yıldız Holding's understanding of 'This World is Ours' and 'Waste-Free Company' is at the heart of our business model. One of our primary focus areas is working for the future of nature. We aim to minimize waste in all our operations. For zero food loss, we select certified seeds, use modern agricultural machinery for the right harvest, and deliver our products to consumers without allowing waste through our modern production and distribution infrastructure."

Highlighting Kerevitaş's other focus points on strengthening with stakeholders and inspiring for the future, Özesenli added, "As Kerevitaş, we are aware of the potential of women in agriculture. Through the Women Stars of Agriculture Project, we provide advance payments and seed support to our farmers alongside purchase guarantees. We aim to invest more in this project, which we also had the opportunity to present at the United Nations. Thus, we are strengthening our collaboration with our stakeholders and inspiring for the future."

Prof. Dr. Yeşim Ekinci from Yeditepe University’s Food Engineering Department, speaking at the panel, remarked, "Our world is now heading in a different direction. Until today, we have made good use of industry, science, and technology, but in doing so, we have left some resources behind. Particularly, animal production significantly affects climate change. In the upcoming period, we need to transition to a more restorative agricultural and animal production system with the power of artificial intelligence."

Dr. Ayşegül Selışık, Assistant Representative of FAO Turkey, stated, "As one of the countries most affected by climate change, we need to use water more carefully. In this respect, we need to produce more food with less water and make the best use of technology for this." Speaking about the situation of farmers globally, Selışık noted, "Farmers are the most vulnerable group worldwide. Unfortunately, this group is not in a position to easily access scientific information. Even if access to information and education is provided, it is very challenging for farmers to reach investment financing. Therefore, we need to discuss farmers' education and financing more. If we cannot achieve these, threats to food security will continue."