Younger generations in Türkiye boost demand for plant-based foods | Daily Sabah – Daily Sabah

Analysis of Türkiye’s Plant-Based Food Sector and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: A Strategic Opportunity for Sustainable Development

Türkiye possesses significant potential to become a leading market in the plant-based food sector, driven by its rich plant biodiversity and favorable demographics. The development of this sector is directly aligned with achieving multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), positioning it as a strategic priority for national economic and environmental policy. This report outlines the sector’s current landscape, its contribution to the SDGs, and the necessary steps to harness its full potential.

Leveraging Biodiversity for Sustainable Agriculture and Consumption (SDG 2, SDG 12, SDG 15)

Türkiye’s unique natural assets provide a strong foundation for a sustainable plant-based food industry. The strategic utilization of this biodiversity is critical for advancing several key SDGs.

• Rich Biological Heritage: The country is home to approximately 12,000 plant species, with nearly 4,000 being endemic. This natural capital is a vital resource for developing novel and diverse plant-based products.
• Contribution to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): By diversifying food sources and promoting sustainable agricultural practices, the sector can enhance food security and improve nutrition.
• Advancing SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): A shift towards plant-based foods is a cornerstone of establishing sustainable consumption and production patterns, reducing the environmental footprint of the food system.
• Supporting SDG 15 (Life on Land): The sustainable commercialization of Türkiye’s unique flora incentivizes the conservation of terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity.

Policy and Institutional Framework for Sector Growth (SDG 9, SDG 17)

The Plant-Based Foods Association (BITKIDEN) is playing a pivotal role in structuring the sector’s growth through strategic initiatives that promote innovation and collaboration, directly supporting SDGs related to industry and partnerships.

1. Policy Development: BITKIDEN is preparing a comprehensive policy report to guide the sector’s development, addressing challenges and proposing solutions. This initiative aims to build a resilient industry infrastructure, aligning with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).
2. Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: The association actively fosters cooperation among industry players, policymakers, and academia. This collaborative model is essential for creating integrated solutions and embodies the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
3. Global Alignment: By monitoring European regulatory frameworks and participating in international projects, BITKIDEN ensures that Türkiye’s sector aligns with global best practices, enhancing its competitiveness and capacity for innovation.

Economic and Demographic Drivers for Growth (SDG 3, SDG 8)

The expansion of the plant-based food market in Türkiye is propelled by strong domestic demand and a dynamic corporate ecosystem, which together drive economic growth and promote public well-being.

• Demographic Advantage: Younger generations, particularly Generation Z and Generation Y, demonstrate a heightened interest in plant-based nutrition. This trend supports healthier lifestyles and dietary choices, contributing to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
• Economic Contribution: The sector, comprising both innovative startups and established manufacturers, stimulates job creation, encourages investment in research and development, and offers significant export potential. These activities are central to achieving SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
• Investment Landscape: Continued capital deployment from both emerging and mature companies underscores the sector’s readiness for expansion, contingent upon attracting adequate investment to scale operations.

Key Challenges and Strategic Recommendations

To fully capitalize on its potential, Türkiye must address existing challenges through a coordinated policy and market development strategy. The following recommendations are critical for sustainable growth:

1. Establish an Enabling Regulatory Environment: A clear and supportive national policy framework is necessary to facilitate innovation, streamline market entry, and ensure the sector’s growth contributes effectively to climate and sustainability targets, including SDG 13 (Climate Action).
2. Promote Consumer Education: Public awareness campaigns are essential to increase consumer understanding and acceptance of plant-based products, thereby driving market penetration and encouraging responsible consumption patterns (SDG 12).
3. Foster Cross-Sector Synergy: Collaboration between the plant-based and animal-based food industries should be encouraged. Viewing these sectors as complementary rather than competitive will maximize benefits for consumers and strengthen the national economy, reflecting the cooperative spirit of SDG 17.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • The article’s central theme is the transition toward a “sustainable food system” by promoting plant-based foods. This directly relates to creating resilient and sustainable agricultural and food production practices.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The text highlights the economic potential of the plant-based food sector in Türkiye, mentioning its capacity for “domestic consumption and export growth,” the emergence of a “vibrant ecosystem of startups,” and strengthening Türkiye’s “economic landscape.”
3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • The article emphasizes the role of “scientific methodology, advanced technological applications,” “innovation in the plant-based food domain,” and “ongoing research and development initiatives” to build a competitive and modern industrial sector.
4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • The focus on developing a plant-based food sector leverages natural resources sustainably. The article discusses capitalizing on Türkiye’s biodiversity to create a sustainable food system, which aligns with responsible production patterns.
5. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • The article explicitly points to Türkiye’s “abundant plant biodiversity,” noting it hosts “approximately 12,000 plant species, nearly 4,000 of which are endemic.” Leveraging this biodiversity for the plant-based food sector is directly connected to the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
6. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article repeatedly underscores the importance of collaboration. It mentions “multi-stakeholder collaboration,” “cooperation among industry players, policymakers and academia,” and the need for “synergy between animal-based and plant-based food producers” to achieve common goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality.
   • This target is addressed through the mission of the Plant-Based Foods Association (BITKIDEN) to facilitate the “transition toward a sustainable food system” by leveraging Türkiye’s plant resources.
2. Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value-added and labour-intensive sectors.
   • The article connects to this target by describing the plant-based sector’s potential to foster “high-value-added products,” drive “sector growth and competitiveness,” and support a “vibrant ecosystem of startups and boutique producers.”
3. Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending.
   • This is reflected in the mention of “ongoing research and development initiatives and sustained capital deployment” by manufacturers and the use of “scientific methodology” and “advanced technological applications” to grow the sector.
4. Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
   • The article implies this target by highlighting how Türkiye can capitalize on its “biological diversity and unique endemic flora” to build a strong plant-based food industry, suggesting a sustainable use of these natural plant resources.
5. Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2025, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
   • While not about preventing extinction directly, the article’s focus on utilizing Türkiye’s “abundant plant biodiversity” and “endemic” species for economic gain implicitly supports the importance of conserving these unique natural assets.
6. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
   • This is directly addressed through BITKIDEN’s efforts to facilitate “multi-stakeholder collaboration,” “broad-based cooperation among industry players, policymakers and academia,” and the call for “synergy between animal-based and plant-based food producers.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 2.4:
   • An implied indicator is the development and implementation of a national policy framework for plant-based foods, which the article states is necessary for Türkiye to harness its potential for a sustainable food system.
2. For Target 8.2:
   • Indicators mentioned include the growth of startups and boutique producers in the sector and the amount of investment attracted by these enterprises. The article notes their growth is “closely tied to attracting adequate investment.”
3. For Target 9.5:
   • A clear indicator is the level of investment in research and development. The article states that established manufacturers are engaged in “ongoing research and development initiatives and sustained capital deployment.”
4. For Target 12.2:
   • An indicator is the number and variety of high-value-added products developed using Türkiye’s endemic flora. The article mentions projects aimed at “fostering the development of high-value-added products” from alternative proteins.
5. For Target 15.5:
   • An indirect indicator could be the economic valuation and commercialization of endemic plant species in a sustainable manner, which would create an incentive for their conservation. The article points to this by mentioning the opportunity to “capitalize on… unique endemic flora.”
6. For Target 17.17:
   • A direct indicator is the establishment of formal collaborations and partnerships. The article mentions BITKIDEN’s work in “facilitating multi-stakeholder collaboration” and the view that animal-based and plant-based sectors should progress via “collaboration and strategic alignment.”

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: dailysabah.com