Emine Erdoğan, the wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, hosted Dutch women farmers implementing sustainable agricultural policies and successful female entrepreneurs active in agriculture and livestock in Turkey, at the invitation of the Dutch Embassy.

During a meeting at the Presidential Complex, Emine Erdoğan began her speech by celebrating International Women’s Day, stating that the presence, strength, and labor of women are the guarantees of the future.

“HEALTH PROBLEMS ARE ROOTED IN GENETICALLY MODIFIED SEEDS AND CHEMICALLY POLLUTED SOILS”

Emine Erdoğan recalled predictions that the world population will reach 8.6 billion by 2030 and 9.8 billion by 2050, emphasizing that while the population increases, the amount of arable land and water resources per capita is decreasing. She stated, "There is a new situation that needs to be managed. If we do not want water wars or large waves of migration in the future, we must develop the right policies."

She stressed that the solution to the increasing food demand with the rising population is not "GMOs." "The real problem stems not from food scarcity, but from its unfair distribution. In a world where 10 million people die of hunger each year, 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted. Furthermore, we must implement environmentally friendly policies in our agricultural activities. Increasing performance in climate-friendly agriculture and reducing carbon footprints should be among our primary goals. We all know that widespread health problems stem from genetically modified seeds and chemically polluted soils."

Emine Erdoğan noted that positive discrimination policies are adopted in investments and support related to agriculture, highlighting that 60.31% of the Young Farmer Support Program consists of women farmers. She also mentioned that women carry out 50% of agricultural activities in Turkey.

“2.5 MILLION WOMEN FARMERS BENEFITED FROM TRAINING ACTIVITIES”

Emphasizing that women are essentially the guarantee of agricultural production and food security, Emine Erdoğan pointed out that various educational campaigns have been organized for women. She reminded that between 2013 and 2018, a total of 2.5 million women farmers benefited from these training activities.

Highlighting that agriculture is also a strategic sector, Emine Erdoğan stated that they closely follow the process of nationalization in agriculture. She mentioned that the "Heritage Seed" project has collected and registered local seeds, and local seeds are multiplied at the Seed Gene Bank.

Emine Erdoğan noted that the exchange of information between Dutch women farmers and female entrepreneurs in Turkey will raise environmental awareness in agriculture. "I find it very meaningful that entrepreneurial women from both countries who work in agriculture meet here today and share their experiences. I hope that today the seeds of new collaborations will be sown. Let’s plant such a seed that we can reap the beautiful fruits of women’s solidarity in the future."

She concluded her remarks by expressing her gratitude to Marjanne de Kwaasteniet, the Dutch Ambassador in Ankara, for facilitating this special meeting with women farmers.

The meeting was also attended by Ayşe Ayşin Işıkgece, General Manager of the Agricultural Enterprises General Directorate (TİGEM), and Aylin Çağlayan Özcan, General Director of External Relations of the EU. During the meeting, Turkish and Dutch women farmers exchanged ideas on topics such as the use of technology in small family farms, organic farming, sustainable farming methods, and waste-free agriculture.

At the end of the meeting, the visiting delegation presented Emine Erdoğan with traditional wooden shoes used by Dutch farmers and red and white flower bulbs symbolizing the Turkish flag.