General Manager of Tat Konserve

Güçlü Toker

“We aim global markets” 

 There is an excitement at Tat Konserve about the project designed for “growing tomato in GAP region” and realized recently. Saying 80 million dollars were invested in the region, Güçlü Toker adds, ”A large-scale agriculture carried out in GAP region must definitely aim global markets.” 

There is a quick rise in food prices all over the world. There are differing views on the causes of this rise. What do you think are reasons for this situation?

 It is necessary to evaluate the increase in food prices in the world within a broader perspective paying attention to every detail. The fact that production can not keep up with demand lies at the ground of the uncontrollable rise in food prices. In addition to drought, rise in energy prices, the use of foods in the production of bio-fuel and the impressive development of China and India also play roles in that increase. The upward trend in oil prices brought the rise in energy prices along with. This situation means tractors cost more, fertilizers used in agriculture cost more and consumers pay more for the harvested products. Drought, however, is a quite serious threat to agricultural exporters in the long run. The increase in food prices creates huge problems for such countries as Nigeria, Indonesia and Vietnam which have to devote more than 50% of their income to food. 

What kind of problems Turkish food sector experiences? What should be done to overcome these problems?  

Food sector is among those where competition is at its fiercest. There are too many players in the sector and this situation brings product diversity. Necessity of controlling all steps in the process leading from field to consumer and ensuring quality in products that go to end consumer require a detailed monitoring of production processes, too. Another problem in the food sector is the unregistered businesses and unlicensed production which pose threats to public health. Presently, production carried out in poor conditions both threaten public health and pose a huge obstacle to steps to be taken in the process of adjustment to European Union. Serious sanctions should be imposed in order to prevent unregistered production. 

When compared with EU countries, at which stage is Turkey with respect to agricultural techniques and quality standards?

 The most comprehensive works by Turkey in the EU adjustment process contain agriculture and food sectors. These regulations which can be summed under the title “Good Agricultural Practices,” are the most important criteria of the EU because of environment and food-originated diseases. Agricultural practices in Turkey progress very slowly due to some structural reasons. This shows it will take long for Turkey to attain EU standards in agriculture. There are a limited number of producers in Turkey with ITO certificate, besides retailers and exporters with EUREPGAP (Euro Retailer Produce Working Group-Good Agricultural Practices) Technical and Standards Committee certificate. There are still significant deficiencies in the food regulations despite the works introduced within the EU adjustment context. The EU states that regulations, laboratories, monitoring and technical personnel mobilized for ensuring food quality and safety together with protecting consumers are imperfect and inadequate.

 Do you think of further improving that plan in the long run? 

While tomato cultivation will be organized in the region with an 80-million-dollar investment, on the other hand the first unit of the tomato paste plant will go into production in June. Our tomato cultivation efforts last year carried out in an area of 400 hectares proved quite successful. This year, however, we will increase the cultivation area to 1500 hectares. We are going to enlarge the cultivation area every year. Our target is to cultivate tomato in an aggregate area of 10 thousand hectares. 

You serve a collection of rich markets like Japan, Greece, Germany and Middle East countries. Are you going to enlarge your target markets?

 Tat Konserve, which has been exporting to international restaurant chains in the Middle East and Gulf region for years, aims to increase the volume of its exports with the realization this year of its project of growing tomato in the GAP region. We plan to considerably increase our exports to the Middle East and other countries with this investment. A large-scale agriculture carried out in GAP region must definitely aim global markets. As a result, it should be able to compete at global level with respect to production costs and output. 

Foreign players have always been in the food sector, but their number grew recently. How do you prepare for this competition?

 The critical point here is that foreign capital should make concrete contributions to the country and sector it enters, in terms of both investment and know-how. We have maintained a smooth coordination with our Japanese partner for years now. World’s number one tomato processing company, U.S.-based The Morning Star, purchased 10% of Harranova Besi ve Tarım Ürünleri which is owned by Tat Konserve thereby becoming our strategic partner. Such partnerships create very important added values such as an increase in agricultural output in addition to knowledge management in marketing, technology and human resources and market information. These are essential for reaching the target.