Turkey’s rich endemic plant flora is attracting investments in plant-based protein from national and international companies to our country. Ebru Akdağ, Chair of the Board of Directors at BİTKİDEN, stated that Turkey is becoming a centre for research and development in plant-based protein.
Turkey’s approximately 4,000 endemic plant species, out of a total of 12,000 plant species, make it rich in plant-based protein. Recognising this richness, national and international companies are relocating their plant-based protein R&D activities to Turkey. Noting that Turkey is becoming an R&D centre for plant-based protein, Ebru Akdağ, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Plant-Based Foods Association (BİTKİDEN), said that Turkey could also gain a significant share in exports in terms of product development and raw materials.
Akdağ emphasised that Turkey has enormous potential in the market, noting that there are regulatory obstacles regarding plant-based protein and that the regulations need to be legally formalised. Akdağ conveyed that the global plant-based food market is expected to reach $77.8 billion in 2025 and that the market is projected to more than double by 2030.
Flexitarian diet trend on the rise
Noting that sustainable nutrition and interest in plant-based proteins have increased in recent years, Akdağ conveyed that plant-based proteins are becoming more important due to the emphasis placed on sustainability and innovation. Stating that people have started to pay more attention to their nutrition with COVID-19, Akdağ said, “There is currently a trend called flexitarianism, where meat and plant-based products are consumed in moderation.
This is neither vegetarianism nor veganism. Plant-based products are being added to the menu. Animal proteins are not completely removed from the menu. It is a way of eating that aims to increase the consumption of plant-based products. In fact, this is not a new trend for us. It is very similar to Turkey’s eating style and Mediterranean diets. If you look at our stews, there is always a vegetable mixture. Therefore, rather than a trend or something new, we are returning to our roots and continuing to eat the way we already do,” he said.
There is an increase in investments
Emphasising that soy is the largest raw material for plant-based foods in the world, Akdağ stated that Turkey has very special and even more undiscovered endemic varieties such as chickpeas, lentils and peas. Stating that these can be used to make products with high functionality, Akdağ said, “The important thing here is that they need to be close to animal products in terms of both texture and taste. There is work being done on these now, but it is also growing very fast around the world. Investments in this area have grown sevenfold in the last three to four years worldwide.
Alternative protein companies received a total of $14.2 billion in investment between 2010 and 2022. It used to be a trend that accelerated more in America, but in recent years it has started to accelerate in Europe. Companies in Turkey are making very serious investments. New facilities are being established and R&D investments are being made. There are facilities in Turkey that have not yet become operational but are investing in this field. Because this field is inevitable, some multinational companies, in addition to local brands, are also investing. They are establishing plant-based protein alternative R&D centres in Turkey.”
On the other hand, Akdağ announced that this year’s summit of the International Plant-Based Foods Working Group, hosted by BİTKİDEN in Antalya, will be held in November to draw attention to our country’s potential.
‘There is a regulatory barrier in Turkey’
Reminding that animal-based foods cause greenhouse gas emissions, Ebru Akdağ stated that it is therefore important to switch to plant-based foods to combat the climate crisis. Mentioning that products such as plant-based meat, plant-based milk and plant-based yoghurt are beginning to emerge, Akdağ said, “However, the most difficult situation in Turkey is that there are regulatory barriers. There is a ban in Turkey that does not exist anywhere else in the world. There is a ban on plant-based cheese.
The production of plant-based products similar to cheese is prohibited. Before the ban, there was a plant-based cheese market that was growing at a triple-digit rate. Before the ban, Turkey’s exports were rapidly increasing and its domestic market was growing. With this ban, plant-based cheese production, exports and imports are not taking place. If this ban is lifted, it will make a very significant contribution to the economy.”
https://www.dunya.com/sektorler/turkiye-bitkisel-proteinin-ar-ge-merkezi-oluyor-haberi-744376
