The first MDG aimed to “eradicate extreme power and hunger” by 2015. However,
this target was not achieved. Experience shows that only accountability by states
which produce food and regulate policies can hope to achieve access to sufficient
nutritious food, and this means that access to food needs to be treated as a human
right, and not as an outcome of a productive economy (Elver, 2015).
8.3 Assessing Food Security in Turkey
Turkey, a middle-income country with a growing population, is among the world’s
twenty largest economies. In 2001 a new macro-economic policy reform was
launched and, as a result of this reform, it is estimated that Turkey is the world’s
seventh largest agricultural producer (OECD, 2011). Hence Turkey is regarded as
one of the major agricultural countries, particularly in view of its peasant-based
culture and economy. The agricultural sector is characterized by a large number of
farms (three million based on the 2001 census), most of which are small (average
farm size six hectares) and use production methods that are not highly developed.
According to the Global Food Security Index (GFSI), Turkey is ranked 48th out
of 113 and has a 64.1 score in the field of food security (EUI, 2018). Like other
countries, Turkey is also affected by global challenges to food security. According
to the food security index, the strengths which score more than 85 are nutritional
standards, food safety, the proportion of the population under the global poverty
line, sufficiency of supply, and volatility of agricultural production. The variables
that influence Turkey’s score negatively include public expenditure on agricultural
research and development, gross domestic product per capita and political instability (EUI, 2016).
The conspicuous problems that are highlighted in studies on Turkey include
fluctuations in the agricultural and food supply – which increase external dependency
– and unfair redistribution of income (Eraktan/Yelen, 2012; Kıymaz/Şahinöz, 2010).
The contraction of agricultural areas is another factor affecting Turkey’s food security. When this is combined with a decline in agricultural production, the allocation of
fertile agricultural land for industrial purposes and urbanization can be seen as a
significant risk to food security. However, one positive development occurred
towards the end of the 2000s when regulations on food safety gained momentum.
The legal measures on food safety taken in Turkey at this time became the driving
force for the negotiation process with the EU. Within this context, the Decree Having
the Force of Law No. 560, concerning the ‘Production, Consumption and Inspection
of Food Stuffs’, was enacted by 1995. It contains provisions for hygienic and technical production, processing, preservation and storage of food. In June 2004 the final
element of this process, the ‘Food Law’, was enacted for the first time in Turkey
(Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 2004). Through this amendment, issues
like the establishment of a National Food Codex Commission, risk analysis, the
formation of scientific committees, the establishment of a National Food Assembly
and food banks, crisis management and traceability have found their place in law.
8 Addressing the Challenge of Food Security in Turkey
131
this target was not achieved. Experience shows that only accountability by states
which produce food and regulate policies can hope to achieve access to sufficient
nutritious food, and this means that access to food needs to be treated as a human
right, and not as an outcome of a productive economy (Elver, 2015).
8.3 Assessing Food Security in Turkey
Turkey, a middle-income country with a growing population, is among the world’s
twenty largest economies. In 2001 a new macro-economic policy reform was
launched and, as a result of this reform, it is estimated that Turkey is the world’s
seventh largest agricultural producer (OECD, 2011). Hence Turkey is regarded as
one of the major agricultural countries, particularly in view of its peasant-based
culture and economy. The agricultural sector is characterized by a large number of
farms (three million based on the 2001 census), most of which are small (average
farm size six hectares) and use production methods that are not highly developed.
According to the Global Food Security Index (GFSI), Turkey is ranked 48th out
of 113 and has a 64.1 score in the field of food security (EUI, 2018). Like other
countries, Turkey is also affected by global challenges to food security. According
to the food security index, the strengths which score more than 85 are nutritional
standards, food safety, the proportion of the population under the global poverty
line, sufficiency of supply, and volatility of agricultural production. The variables
that influence Turkey’s score negatively include public expenditure on agricultural
research and development, gross domestic product per capita and political instability (EUI, 2016).
The conspicuous problems that are highlighted in studies on Turkey include
fluctuations in the agricultural and food supply – which increase external dependency
– and unfair redistribution of income (Eraktan/Yelen, 2012; Kıymaz/Şahinöz, 2010).
The contraction of agricultural areas is another factor affecting Turkey’s food security. When this is combined with a decline in agricultural production, the allocation of
fertile agricultural land for industrial purposes and urbanization can be seen as a
significant risk to food security. However, one positive development occurred
towards the end of the 2000s when regulations on food safety gained momentum.
The legal measures on food safety taken in Turkey at this time became the driving
force for the negotiation process with the EU. Within this context, the Decree Having
the Force of Law No. 560, concerning the ‘Production, Consumption and Inspection
of Food Stuffs’, was enacted by 1995. It contains provisions for hygienic and technical production, processing, preservation and storage of food. In June 2004 the final
element of this process, the ‘Food Law’, was enacted for the first time in Turkey
(Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 2004). Through this amendment, issues
like the establishment of a National Food Codex Commission, risk analysis, the
formation of scientific committees, the establishment of a National Food Assembly
and food banks, crisis management and traceability have found their place in law.
8 Addressing the Challenge of Food Security in Turkey
131