(1) To show the current state of food security, food safety and nutrition in Turkey;
(2) to make clear the issues in current policy implementation; and
(3) to advise on new policy applications and requirements for legislative or
administrative changes.
With the development of Turkey-FAO relations, the Sub-Regional Office was
established in 2007 in Ankara. The FAO’s technical expertise is usually transferred
to Turkey through the projects formed in the context of the Technical Cooperation
Programme (TCP). According to the FAO, projects will “aim to restore healthy
ecosystems, promote environmentally friendly agricultural practices and raise levels
of knowledge among government institutions” for farms and communities in
Turkey. One example of such a project includes the climate-smart agriculture
(CSA) approach, which was developed in 2010 and combines issues such as
improving efficiency, reducing losses, and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
1 FAO-Turkey Partnership Programmes aim to provide a substantive, financial
and operational framework for active cooperation on food security, poverty alleviation and the sustainable management of forests and tree resources. The second
phase of the FAO-Turkey Partnership Programme (2015–2019), with a US$10
million budget, will focus on food security and nutrition, agricultural and rural
development, the protection and management of natural resources, agricultural
policies and food safety.
2 The 30th FAO Regional Conference held in Turkey
highlighted the importance of Turkey’s partnership with the FAO for extending
technical expertise and better assisting neighbouring countries. This partnership
would also help Turkey assist Syrian refugees both in local communities and camps
as part of its humanitarian work.
In addition to these initiatives, after the Paris Agreement of 2015 the FAO stated
that it would kick off projects and household surveys in Turkey and the region to
ensure food security and agricultural sustainability by addressing climate change.
8.5 A Life Support: Syrian Refugees and Food Security
in Turkey
The war in Syria has been ongoing since 2011. Turkey has become a major destination for refugees escaping regional conflict zones, and hosts the highest number
of Syrian refugees in the world – about 3 million. If the refugee population
increases rapidly, Turkey could begin to experience challenges in providing access
to food and water. The majority of refugees are dependent on the provision of food
assistance, and due to this it is not possible to describe Turkey as possessing all four
1
See at: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/fao-to-help-turkish-agriculture-cope-with-climatechange.aspx?pageID=238&nID=99018&NewsCatID=345.
2
See at: http://www.fao.org/3/a-ax280e.pdf.
8 Addressing the Challenge of Food Security in Turkey
135
(2) to make clear the issues in current policy implementation; and
(3) to advise on new policy applications and requirements for legislative or
administrative changes.
With the development of Turkey-FAO relations, the Sub-Regional Office was
established in 2007 in Ankara. The FAO’s technical expertise is usually transferred
to Turkey through the projects formed in the context of the Technical Cooperation
Programme (TCP). According to the FAO, projects will “aim to restore healthy
ecosystems, promote environmentally friendly agricultural practices and raise levels
of knowledge among government institutions” for farms and communities in
Turkey. One example of such a project includes the climate-smart agriculture
(CSA) approach, which was developed in 2010 and combines issues such as
improving efficiency, reducing losses, and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
1 FAO-Turkey Partnership Programmes aim to provide a substantive, financial
and operational framework for active cooperation on food security, poverty alleviation and the sustainable management of forests and tree resources. The second
phase of the FAO-Turkey Partnership Programme (2015–2019), with a US$10
million budget, will focus on food security and nutrition, agricultural and rural
development, the protection and management of natural resources, agricultural
policies and food safety.
2 The 30th FAO Regional Conference held in Turkey
highlighted the importance of Turkey’s partnership with the FAO for extending
technical expertise and better assisting neighbouring countries. This partnership
would also help Turkey assist Syrian refugees both in local communities and camps
as part of its humanitarian work.
In addition to these initiatives, after the Paris Agreement of 2015 the FAO stated
that it would kick off projects and household surveys in Turkey and the region to
ensure food security and agricultural sustainability by addressing climate change.
8.5 A Life Support: Syrian Refugees and Food Security
in Turkey
The war in Syria has been ongoing since 2011. Turkey has become a major destination for refugees escaping regional conflict zones, and hosts the highest number
of Syrian refugees in the world – about 3 million. If the refugee population
increases rapidly, Turkey could begin to experience challenges in providing access
to food and water. The majority of refugees are dependent on the provision of food
assistance, and due to this it is not possible to describe Turkey as possessing all four
1
See at: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/fao-to-help-turkish-agriculture-cope-with-climatechange.aspx?pageID=238&nID=99018&NewsCatID=345.
2
See at: http://www.fao.org/3/a-ax280e.pdf.
8 Addressing the Challenge of Food Security in Turkey
135