The 17th Ordinary General Assembly of the Turkish Seed Union (TÜRKTOB) was held on October 18-19, 2025, at the union's headquarters in Ankara.
The General Assembly was attended by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Affairs Prof. Dr. Vahit Kirişci, AK Party Adıyaman Deputy and Vice Chairman of Organization Atty. Mustafa Alkayış, Head of the Department of Education and Publication of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Bülent Kahraman Çolakoğlu, Deputy General Director of Plant Production İhsan Emiralioğlu, Head of the Seed Department Sezgin Karadeniz, Head of the Field Crops Research Department at the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies Suat Yılmaz, Director of the Seed Registration and Certification Center Şakir Berktaş, Director of the Central Research Institute for Field Crops Dr. Hümeyra Yaman, representatives from professional organizations, and guests.
The Chairman of the Board of the Turkish Seed Union (TÜRKTOB) Hacı Ömer Güler, TÜRKTOB Board Members, the Chairmen and Members of the Boards of the Sub-Unions, and TÜRKTOB Delegates were present at the General Assembly.
The General Assembly was managed by the Council Board, chaired by Mehmet Nihat Dolaş, and consisting of Taşkın Erol and Rahmi Kandemir.
"CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE TURKISH SEED UNION HACI ÖMER GÜLER: 'TODAY, WE ARE SHARING THE STORY OF SOLIDARITY AND BELIEF'"
In his speech at the General Assembly, the Chairman of the Board of the Turkish Seed Union (TÜRKTOB), Hacı Ömer Güler, stated that Türkiye's food sovereignty and agricultural independence depend on a strong seed sector.
TÜRKTOB Chairman of the Board Hacı Ömer Güler said, "No country without a strong seed sector can carry its agriculture into the future."
DEPUTY GENERAL DIRECTOR OF BÜGEM İHSAN EMİRALİOĞLU: "THE SEED IS AT THE HEART OF AGRICULTURAL INDEPENDENCE"
In his address to the General Assembly, İhsan Emiralioğlu, Deputy General Director of Plant Production at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, noted that Türkiye has made great progress in the seed sector over the last 25 years, stating, "Agriculture began with the seed. One cannot speak of the agricultural independence of a country that is not independent in seeds."
"WE ARE WORKING WITH THE GOAL OF A CONTINUOUSLY DEVELOPING SEED SECTOR"
Emphasizing at the end of his speech that they are working to take the current achievements in the seed sector even further, Emiralioğlu said, "We have created a strong infrastructure with the legal regulations enacted so far. From now on, the development of the Turkish seed sector will continue to increase unceasingly."
HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND PUBLICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY DR. BÜLENT KAHRAMAN ÇOLAKOĞLU: "THE SEED IS THE BEGINNING OF LIFE AND THE INVOCATION OF AGRICULTURE"
In his speech, Dr. Bülent Kahraman Çolakoğlu, Head of the Department of Education and Publication of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, emphasized that the seed is the beginning of life and the invocation of agriculture, adding, "The seed is one of the most important parameters of being a strategic power."
"OUR PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT RECEIVED GREAT ATTENTION"
Providing information about the public service announcement prepared in cooperation with TÜRKTOB, Çolakoğlu stated, "The film we prepared reached wide audiences on national, regional, and local media channels. I personally wrote the poem composed for this film. The word 'seed', consisting of five letters in Turkish, actually embodies agriculture, forestry, harvest, and the ocean. In its essence, it carries life, and in its heart, mystery."
"THE LARGEST SHARE OF EFFORT BELONGS TO THE PRODUCERS"
Concluding his speech by thanking everyone who contributed to the seed sector, Çolakoğlu said, "Our ministry has made a great effort in this success, but the largest share belongs to you, our producers, to you who put in the labor. I applaud you all wholeheartedly."
AK PARTY ADIYAMAN DEPUTY ATTY. MUSTAFA ALKAYIŞ: "MAKING SEED PRODUCTION A STATE POLICY HAS CREATED A GREAT DIFFERENCE AND AWARENESS"
In his speech, AK Party Adıyaman Deputy and Vice Chairman of Organization Atty. Mustafa Alkayış stated that elevating the seed sector to a state policy has created a great difference and awareness.
"I THANK EVERYONE WHO PUTS EFFORT INTO THE SEED CULTURE"
At the end of his speech, Alkayış thanked the TÜRKTOB management and all stakeholders who contributed to the development of the seed culture, adding, "We are facing a sector that has become worthy of this trust. I congratulate you all on your efforts. We are glad to have you."
CHAIRMAN OF THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND RURAL AFFAIRS PROF. DR. VAHİT KİRİŞCİ: "AGRICULTURE WILL ALSO FORM THE BACKBONE OF THE CENTURY OF TÜRKİYE"
In his speech at the 17th Ordinary General Assembly of the Turkish Seed Union, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Affairs, Prof. Dr. Vahit Kirişci, stated that agriculture and the seed sector have a decisive role in Türkiye's strategic future.
"AT THE HEART OF AGRICULTURE LIES THE SEED"
Emphasizing that the seed sector is the cornerstone of agriculture, Kirişci said, "The heart, essence, and beginning of agriculture is the seed. If there are no seeds in a country, it is impossible to talk about agricultural independence." Noting that Türkiye has gained a strong seed infrastructure thanks to the legal steps taken since the 2000s, Kirişci summarized: "We provided this sector with a solid foundation with the Breeder's Rights in 2004, the Producer Unions in 2005, and the Seed Law in 2006. A state of law can only progress with sound legislation."
"THE SEED SECTOR IS NOW A STRATEGIC POWER"
Stating that the seed sector is a strategic field not only agriculturally but also in terms of national security, Kirişci noted, "If we have become a country that exports seeds to 103 countries today, it is the result of these steps taken. This sector is a strategic power that guarantees Türkiye's food independence."
"WE MUST BE A COUNTRY THAT PROVIDES FOOD AND HOPE TO THE WORLD"
Pointing out that Türkiye is a source of hope not only for its own people but also for oppressed regions, Kirişci said, "The Century of Türkiye is not only about the prosperity of Türkiye, but also a vision that will bring peace, abundance, and justice to the region and the world. Food security is at the center of this vision."
"TÜRKTOB IS AN EXAMPLE IN FOCUSING ON THE SAME GOAL WITH THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE BRANCHES"
Touching upon the importance of inter-institutional cooperation in his speech, Kirişci stated, "When the legislative, executive, and civil society focus on the same goal, we achieve great success. The Turkish Seed Union is an important example in this field."
"TÜRKİYE IS MARCHING TOWARDS REGIONAL LEADERSHIP IN AGRICULTURE AND FOOD"
Kirişci noted that Türkiye's agricultural cooperation capacity is rapidly increasing in the Organization of Turkic States, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, adding, "Türkiye is taking firm steps towards becoming a country that is not only self-sufficient but also provides food and security to its surroundings."
"AS TÜRKİYE'S AGRICULTURE GROWS STRONGER, THE HOPE OF THE OPPRESSED WILL INCREASE"
Kirişci greeted the general assembly with the words: "Every step of Türkiye will also contribute to the future of millions of people who pin their hopes on us. A strong Türkiye means strong agriculture and a strong future."
The General Assembly continued with the presentation and acquittal of the Annual Reports of the Board of Directors and the Supervisory Board, the reading and acquittal of the Budget and Financial Reports, the determination of candidates for the Union's organs, and wishes and desires.
Subsequently, Hacı Ömer Güler, Chairman of the Board of the Turkish Seed Union (TÜRKTOB), thanked all participants with a closing speech.
On Sunday, October 19, 2025, the elections for the union organs were held.
To the Board of Directors; Caner Çelebi, Ahmet Dündar, Yıldıray Gençer, Kasım Kılıç, Miktat Olgun, Selami Yazar, M. Kayhan Yıldırım.
To the Supervisory Board; Ahmet Özdemir, İsmail Sayım
To the Disciplinary Board; Halil Bedir, Serkan Kasapoğlu, Yıldırım Şamil Özden were elected.
(The list is written alphabetically by surname.)
