World Grain - January 2011 - 6

from the editor-in-chief

Grain success parallels Turkey's
leadership claim

ithin the world of grain, attitudes
of industry participants vary as
broadly as the ranges of weather,
yields and demand that make for differences between countries and even within
nations. And while it is true that success
with production and marketing often spurs
positive feelings among farmers, marketers
and processors serving diverse needs, few
examples come to mind where grain is a
source of national pride, where a country's
achievements in grain contribute to economic vitality. It so happens that a journey
in the past year accompanied by an interview in the middle of America of a leading
agricultural official prompted the conclusion that Turkey may be cited as the country
where what has happened in grain accounts
for its assertion of leadership among its
neighboring Muslim nations.
Turkey stands out among the nations in
the Middle East for how its grain production
has given it strength to assume political and
economic dominance. From a time when a
large part of its domestic supplies were imported to the present when Turkey is growing sufficient grain to meet domestic needs
and also to supply exports represents an impressive accomplishment in a world of frequent crop disappointments. This achievement is due in large part to the embrace by
Turkey of modern agricultural production,
most especially in using its water resources.

WORLD GKAII
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Arvin Donley
Meyer Sosland
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Chris Lyddon
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Much of its grain, as well as corn, pulses and
sugar beets are grown in irrigated fields that
efficiently utilize water to produce in areas
that are at relatively high elevations. Rotation practices have been adopted that assure
sustainability at a level that is the envy of
agricultural producers in developed nations.
While Turkey's pride with its grain growing primarily reflects its priority to domestic
food security, it is difficult to overlook the
nation's history in the development of global grain production. It was in Turkey some
9,000 years ago that grain crops, probably
wheat, were first domesticated, giving farmers in that nation considerable self-respect.
That the wheat introduced in the American
Plains in the 19th century was known as Turkey hard red winter wheat only accentuates
for the people of that country its centrality in
evolution of the grain economy.
Turkey's embrace of modern agriculture
has not extended to genetically modified
crops. The leaders of the country's agriculture are attracted by what GMO's might
offer in the way of increased yields and resistance to insects and unfavorable growing
conditions. But they reflect the questions
heard in other Muslim countries about the
effect of this branch of modern agriculture
on health. It is comforting to know that Turkey wants the U.S. government to conduct
extensive research aimed at answering these
questions, and if the findings are favorable,

confidence is voiced about global acceptance
of this technology.
National emphasis on food security is not
forgotten when it comes to exports of both
wheat and flour that are supplied primarily
to neighboring nations. Indeed, the main
destination for these exports has been Iraq,
where domestic production has dropped in
the wake of the prolonged war and strife
that have besieged that nation. Meeting the
food needs of fellow Muslims in Iraq as
well as in other nearby nations hurt by 2010
Russia's export ban has been encouraged by
the government.
"If you look at all the issues that are of
importance to the world today, they have
put Turkey in a rather more advantageous
position," Abdullah Gul, president of Turkey, said in an address last fall to the United
Nations.
Grain did not specifically win mention in
this address, but anyone aware of how Turkey has been boosted by its grain success is
well aware that its leadership claims stem as
much from this as anything else.
"Turkey used to be known as the sick man
of Europe, whereas Turkey now is the only
healthy man of Europe," Mr. Gul asserted.
In many ways, food security due to grain
made this amazing transformation happen.

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Morton I. Sosland
Editor-in-chief

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