2 July 2012 Dr. A. Ahmet YÜCER Deputy Director General

1. MINISTRY OF FOOOD AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK General Directorate of Agricultural Research And Policies Biotechnology Research in The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock in Turkey 2July 2012 Dr. A. Ahmet YÜCER Deputy Director General

2. Outline Status of National Research System (NARS) in Turkey General information of General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policyies (GDAR) Biotechnology studies and Institutions of GDARstudying biotechnology Excellence center involved in biotechnology Biosafety Law and Institutions to detect GMOs

3. SOME ICT APPLICATIONS IN MINISTRY OF FOOD AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK Registration Systems (Farmer, Animal, Beekeeping, Organic Farming, Aquaculture, Cooperative, Genetic Resources etc) Precision Farming Applications Early Warning Systemsfor plant protection, Automatic Observation Stations for Agricultural Meteorology, Agricultural Crop Production and Monitoring, GIS, etc) Mobile Communications Food Line 174, GSM Message Learning Systems(E- Library, TV and Radio Programs) Web Sites (Public, private sectorand NGO’s)

4. Current status of NARS (main contributors) • Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology • Scientific and Technological Research Council (TUBITAK) • Ministry of Food Agricultureand Livestock • Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs • Universities • Departments of • Agriculture (26) • Veterinary (18) • Food Engineering (36) • Fisheries (23) • Forestry (10)

5. 11 Central Res. Ins. 26 SubjectOrientedRes. Stations Total 47 Res. Ins. Research Institutes of GDAR 10 Regional Res. Ins. 5

6. Staff, budget, projects and publications of GDAR GDAR has 2.000 researchers in differentagricultural areas, Completed total project number has increasing too, completed project number was 200 in 2011, Researchers are publicated 650national and 400 international publication in 2011

7. GDAR Budget (1000 USD) Budget (USD) GDAR budget has been increased ten times in the last 10 years.

8. GDARMandates • Determine National Research Strategy and prepare Research Master Plan • Set up research priorities and allocate the available resources to the programs • Monitor and evaluate research programs • Disseminate and publish the research results • Carry out research to improve new technologies and applied end-user • Improve research system, human resources and capacity • Assist the government in developing agricultural policy

9. Biotechnology studies in Turkey Mainly; • Universities, • TÜBİTAK and • Research Institutesof MFAL Conducting biotechnology studies • Capacity building • Training

10. Needs to biotechnology studies in the Institutes of GDAR • Certified variety release takes 12-13 years via conventional breeding. • Getting homogenous inbred lines takes six-seven years after crossing. • In our Institutions, producing double haploid plants via anther cultures shortens time at least four-five years to get inbred lines. • The first studies in horticulture; • Atatürk Horticultural Crops Central Research Institute, Yalova in 1993, • West Mediterranean Research Institute in 1994, • In field crops; • Capacity building for infrastructure initiated in Central Field Research Institution in 1996.

11. Institutionsand projects related biotechnology under GDAR

12. Biotechnology projects on Horticulture Crops Producing virus free buds, Dihaploid breeding of melon via anther culture, Embryo rescue of Citruses, Disease free production of banana and ornamental plants, Mi gene analysis of tomato to determine root tumor nematod, Characterization of populations, Determining of inter/intra genetic relationships of genotypes, Determining commercial varieties via DNA fingerprinting and genetic mapping, Marker assisted selection, Determining the mechanism of biotic and abiotic stresses resistance.

13. Conservation of livestock genetic resources via Biotechnology projects • Embryo transfer- MOET (Polly ovul) studies • Major Gen seeking, • Gender identification, • Determining gen polymorphism, • Lab and staff capacity building at Bandırma Sheep Research Station • Conservation of livestock genetic resources (DNA, sperm and embryo) • Two gene bank established; • Lalahan Animal Central Research Institute and • TÜBİTAK-MAM, Gebze

14. Plant tissue culture labs in Niğde and İzmir Plant Tissue Culture Center established at Aegean Agricultural Research Institute (AARI), Stock material for potato, fruit trees and ornamental plants will be developed in that Center, Lab and staff capacity developed in Niğde Potato Research Station (NPRS), AARI and NPRS have capacity for 10% basic seed (mini tuber) production capacity of the Country. Domestic potato varieties developed using biotechnology will be available in a few years

15. Biotechnology projects on Field Crops Determining crop diversity by molecular markers, Genetic characterization of plant material (Land races, varieties, breeding material/lines), Marker assisted selection especially for resistance to pests and diseases, Anther culture for getting Doubled haploid plants to shorten breeding duration, Analyzing and determining transgenic plants, Developing pure lines and commercial varieties of field crops such as wheat, cicer, lentil, cotton, potatos and barley by using combination of biotechnology and conventional breeding.

16. Animal Biotechnology and PlantDrought Test Center in Konya • Centers of excellence using biotechnology under GDAR: • Animal Biotechnology Center, • Bull Testing Center and Animal Gene Bank Unit,opened in Lalahan, Ankara in 2010, http://www.lalahanhmae.gov.tr/EN/Index.aspx • Drought Testing Center in Bahri Dagdas International Research Institute in 2010. http://www.bdutae.gov.tr/index.php

17. Plant Biotechnology andPlant Cold Test Centers Plant Biotechnology Center to establish in Field Crops Central Research Institute in Ankara, http://www.tarlabitkileri.gov.tr/ Plant Cold Test Center to establish under East Anatolia Research Institute, Erzurum. http://www.datae.gov.tr/

18. Lab and staff capacity developed to detect and identify GMOs Ankara Food Control Laboratory Directorate, İstanbul Food Control Laboratory Directorate, National Food Reference Laboratory, Bursa Food and Feed Control Central Research Institute, Ankara Field Crops Central Research Institute, Antalya West Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute,

19. Biosafety Law The Law prepared and released by coordination of the MFAL,Cooperation with Governmental Institutions, Universities and NGOs, • Considering; • EU Laws and Legislations, • Cartagena Biosafety Protocol, • The situation and needs of the Country, • The Law published in Official Gazette in 26 March 2010. Established Mechanism of KnowledgeChange • You can see decisions of Board and reports of Scientific Committees in this web site http://www.tbbdm.gov.tr/Home.aspx

20. Biosafety Law • According to Biosafety law in Turkey; • GMO’s research is free, • GMO’s crop production is forbidden, • GMO’s use in infant formula is forbidden • GMO’s product importation for feed, food and bioenergy is depend on permission from Biosafety Board

21. Conclusion Agricultural Biotechnology for Knowledge Sharing in NENA Region; • to establishment of a biotechnology integrated system efficient and sustainable • to built a network between Researchers and Research Institutes In principle, • Turkey is ready to contribute and strengthening regional cooperation.

22. Thank you for your attention… Dr. A. Ahmet YUCER Tel: +90 312 3435674 ayucer@tagem.gov.tr