This document summarizes biotechnology research in Turkey's Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock. It outlines the national agricultural research system and key institutions conducting biotechnology studies. Projects focus on areas like plant and animal breeding, genetic resource conservation, and detecting genetically modified organisms. The ministry supports several centers of excellence in biotechnology and has established laws and systems to safely and responsibly advance agricultural biotechnology research and applications in Turkey.

1. MINISTRY OF FOOOD AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK
General Directorate of Agricultural Research And Policies
Biotechnology Research in The Ministry of Food, Agriculture
and Livestock in Turkey
2 July 2012
Dr. A. Ahmet YÜCER
Deputy Director General

2. Outline
* Status of National Research System (NARS) in Turkey
* General information of General Directorate of Agricultural Research and
Policyies (GDAR)
* Biotechnology studies and Institutions of GDAR studying biotechnology
* Excellence center involved in biotechnology
* Biosafety Law and Institutions to detect GMOs
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3. SOME ICT APPLICATIONS IN MINISTRY OF FOOD AGRICULTURE AND
LIVESTOCK
Registration Systems (Farmer, Animal, Beekeeping, Organic Farming,
Aquaculture, Cooperative, Genetic Resources etc)
Precision Farming Applications
Early Warning Systems for plant protection,
Automatic Observation Stations for Agricultural Meteorology,
Agricultural Crop Production and Monitoring, GIS, etc)
Mobile Communications
Food Line 174,
GSM Message
Learning Systems (E- Library, TV and Radio Programs)
Web Sites (Public, private sector and NGO’s)
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4. Current status of NARS
(main contributors)
* Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology
* Scientific and Technological Research Council (TUBITAK)
* Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock
* Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs
* Universities
* Departments of
* Agriculture (26)
* Veterinary (18)
* Food Engineering (36)
* Fisheries (23)
* Forestry (10)

5. 5
Research Institutes of GDAR
11 Central Res. Ins.
10 Regional Res. Ins.
26 Subject Oriented Res. Stations
Total 47 Res. Ins..

6. Staff, budget, projects and publications of GDAR
GDAR has 2.000 researchers in different agricultural areas,
Completed total project number has increasing too, completed
project number was 200 in 2011,
Researchers are publicated 650 national and 400 international
publication in 2011
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7. GDAR Budget (1000 USD)
GDAR budget has been increased ten times in the last 10 years.
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8. GDAR Mandates
• Determine National Research Strategy and prepare Research Master Plan
• Set up research priorities and allocate the available resources to the
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programs
• Monitor and evaluate research programs
• Disseminate and publish the research results
• Carry out research to improve new technologies and applied end-user
• Improve research system, human resources and capacity
• Assist the government in developing agricultural policy

9. Biotechnology studies in Turkey
Mainly;
* Universities,
* TÜBİTAK and
* Research Institutes of MFAL
Conducting biotechnology studies
* Capacity building
* Training
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10. Needs to biotechnology studies
in the Institutes of GDAR
* Certified variety release takes 12-13 years via conventional breeding.
* Getting homogenous inbred lines takes six-seven years after crossing.
* In our Institutions, producing double haploid plants via anther cultures
shortens time at least four-five years to get inbred lines.
* The first studies in horticulture;
* Atatürk Horticultural Crops Central Research Institute, Yalova in 1993,
* West Mediterranean Research Institute in 1994,
* In field crops;
* Capacity building for infrastructure initiated in Central Field Research
Institution in 1996.
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11. Institutions and projects related biotechnology
Institutions
Research staff
(Ph.D+ M.Sc.)
Number of
conducted
projects
under GDAR
1 Field Crops Central Research Institute, Ankara 9 10
2 West Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute, Antalya 7 39
3 Atatürk Horticultural Crops Central Research Institute, Yalova 16 24
4 Alata Horticultural Crops Central Research Institute, Mersin 9 10
5 Lalahan Animal Central Research Institute, Ankara 14 10
6 East Meditarrenaen Agricultural Research Institution, Adana 16 9
7 Bahri Dağdaş International Agricultural Research Institution Konya 5 4
8 Aegean Agricultural Research Institution, İzmir 5 4
9 Potatos Research Station, Niğde 4 3
10 Cotton Station, Nazilli - Aydın 3 3
11 Other Research Institutions 7 14
TOTAL 95 130

12. Biotechnology projects on Horticulture Crops
* Producing virus free buds,
* Dihaploid breeding of melon via anther culture,
* Embryo rescue of Citruses,
* Disease free production of banana and ornamental plants,
* Mi gene analysis of tomato to determine root tumor nematod,
* Characterization of populations,
* Determining of inter/intra genetic relationships of genotypes,
* Determining commercial varieties via DNA fingerprinting and genetic
mapping,
* Marker assisted selection,
* Determining the mechanism of biotic and abiotic stresses resistance.
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13. Conservation of livestock genetic resources via
Biotechnology projects
* Embryo transfer- MOET (Polly ovul) studies
* Major Gen seeking,
* Gender identification,
* Determining gen polymorphism,
* Lab and staff capacity building at Bandırma Sheep Research Station
* Conservation of livestock genetic resources (DNA, sperm and embryo)
* Two gene bank established;
* Lalahan Animal Central Research Institute and
* TÜBİTAK-MAM, Gebze
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14. Plant tissue culture labs in Niğde and İzmir
* Plant Tissue Culture Center established at Aegean Agricultural
Research Institute (AARI),
* Stock material for potato, fruit trees and ornamental plants will
be developed in that Center,
* Lab and staff capacity developed in Niğde Potato Research
Station (NPRS),
* AARI and NPRS have capacity for 10 % basic seed (mini tuber)
production capacity of the Country.
* Domestic potato varieties developed using biotechnology will be
available in a few years
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15. Biotechnology projects on Field Crops
* Determining crop diversity by molecular markers,
* Genetic characterization of plant material (Land races, varieties,
breeding material/lines),
* Marker assisted selection especially for resistance to pests and
diseases,
* Anther culture for getting Doubled haploid plants to shorten
breeding duration,
* Analyzing and determining transgenic plants,
* Developing pure lines and commercial varieties of field crops such
as wheat, cicer, lentil, cotton, potatos and barley by using
combination of biotechnology and conventional breeding.
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16. Animal Biotechnology and Plant Drought Test Center
in Konya
* Centers of excellence using biotechnology
under GDAR:
* Animal Biotechnology Center,
* Bull Testing Center and Animal Gene Bank
Unit, opened in Lalahan, Ankara in 2010,
http://www.lalahanhmae.gov.tr/EN/Index.aspx
* Drought Testing Center in Bahri Dagdas
International Research Institute in 2010.
http://www.bdutae.gov.tr/index.php
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17. Plant Biotechnology and Plant Cold Test
Centers
* Plant Biotechnology Center to establish in Field Crops
Central Research Institute in Ankara,
http://www.tarlabitkileri.gov.tr/
* Plant Cold Test Center to establish under East
Anatolia Research Institute, Erzurum.
http://www.datae.gov.tr/
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18. Lab and staff capacity developed to detect and
identify GMOs
* Ankara Food Control Laboratory Directorate,
* İstanbul Food Control Laboratory Directorate,
* National Food Reference Laboratory,
* Bursa Food and Feed Control Central Research Institute,
* Ankara Field Crops Central Research Institute,
* Antalya West Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute,
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19. Biosafety Law
The Law prepared and released by coordination of the MFAL, Cooperation
with Governmental Institutions, Universities and NGOs,
*Considering;
* EU Laws and Legislations,
* Cartagena Biosafety Protocol,
* The situation and needs of the Country,
*The Law published in Official Gazette in 26 March 2010.
Established Mechanism of Knowledge Change
*You can see decisions of Board and reports of Scientific Committees in this
web site http://www.tbbdm.gov.tr/Home.aspx
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20. Biosafety Law
* According to Biosafety law in Turkey;
* GMO’s research is free,
* GMO’s crop production is forbidden,
* GMO’s use in infant formula is forbidden
* GMO’s product importation for feed, food and
bioenergy is depend on permission from Biosafety
Board
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21. Agricultural Biotechnology for Knowledge Sharing in NENA Region;
* to establishment of a biotechnology integrated system efficient and
sustainable
* to built a network between Researchers and Research Institutes
In principle,
* Turkey is ready to contribute and strengthening regional
cooperation.
Conclusion
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22. Thank you for your
attention…
Dr. A. Ahmet YUCER
Tel: +90 312 3435674
ayucer@tagem.gov.tr
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