An association bringing together stakeholders contributing to a plant-based nutrition system for a more sustainable world has begun its operations. The Plant-Based Foods Association (BİTKİDEN), aims to develop projects in collaboration with international stakeholders and seeks to place plant-based foods at the center of food system transformation with a sustainable and scientific approach.
For the future of our planet and humanity, a scientific, collaborative, sustainable, holistic, and systematic approach to food system transformation is required. The key to this approach lies in increasing awareness and innovation around plant-based foods. As the demand and production of plant-based foods rise, hope for a sustainable future also grows. With the goal of playing a leading role in this area, The Plant-Based Foods Association (BİTKİDEN) started its operations in Turkey in December 2022. BİTKİDEN, aims to place plant-based foods at the center of food system transformation with a sustainable and scientific approach. Emphasizing the importance of plant-based foods for sustainability, BİTKİDEN seeks to uncover Turkey’s potential in plant-based foods.
"The Future Will Be from BİTKİDEN"
BİTKİDEN - Ebru Akdağ, Chairperson of the Association’s Board of Directors, stated that the association, with its vision focused on sustainable nutrition to benefit both people and the planet, is a pioneering and leading organization for all stakeholders in this field. Akdağ said, “By bringing together all stakeholders contributing to a sustainable plant-based nutrition system under our roof, we aim to lead the transformation towards plant-based foods, create interest and awareness among consumers, influence relevant policies, and encourage stakeholders under our roof to conduct scientific research and innovation on plant-based foods.” She added, “All trends in the food sector indicate that the future lies in plant-based foods, and it is crucial for our country, which plays an important role in plant-based food production, not only to benefit from this wave but also to steer it.”
"We are embarking on this journey together with international stakeholders for a visionary organization."
BİTKİDEN’s Ebru Akdağ, mentioning that BİTKİDEN will take a leading role in contributing to the regulatory preparations needed for the sustainability of plant-based foods and raising consumer awareness, stated, "In order to create a more visionary initiative on issues concerning public health and the environment, we are starting our journey with a global knowledge base as a member of the International Plant-Based Food Working Group (IPBFWG) and the European Union Plant-Based Foods Alliance (EAPF). Our goal is to place plant-based foods at the center of food system transformation with a sustainable and scientific approach."
"Our compass will be science."
Akdağ, stating that we are entering a new era in which plant-based foods are being globally defined, said, "To highlight the importance of plant-based foods and increase their reliability, we are preparing to establish a multidisciplinary scientific board by bringing together experts from various fields. We aim to collaborate with financial institutions for sustainability and guide start-up ventures. Honest competition, science-based impartiality, collective action toward goals, service to the benefit of society, and the search for innovative and effective solutions form the core principles of our association."
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