20.3 Sectors in Turkey that make up Turkey’s Bioeconomy
Agriculture:
Agriculture plays a significant role in Turkey’s bio-economy, with the country being a major producer of various crops, fruits, and vegetables. In 2022, agriculture contributed 6.8 percent to total GDP. It is estimated that production quantities of cereals and other crops (excluding fodder crops) will increase by 4.8% in 2023 compared to the previous year. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by 1.2% in agriculture, forestry and fishing in the second quarter of 2023. The agricultural sector is a significant part of Turkey’s bioeconomy, representing around 6.8% of the country’s GDP
Forestry:
Forestry includes activities related to the sustainable management of forests and the production of timber and non-timber forest products. Turkey boasts a vast expanse of forests, covering 23 million hectares out of the total 78 million hectares of land in the country. However, it is important to note that 3 million hectares of these forests are considered unproductive, with less than 10% crown cover, signifying a potential for improvement in their ecological health and productivity. While Turkey has approximately 28% of its land covered by forests, the income generated from forest products contributes only 0.003% to the government’s treasury. This indicates a significant gap between the extent of forested land and the economic contribution of the forestry sector (Magezi & Okan, 2023).
Fishery:
Turkey has a substantial coastline and fishing industry. An analysis of the fishery sector would involve examining the contribution of fisheries to the bio-economy, looking at fish production, aquaculture, and the economic value of the fishing industry. The total fishery production for the 2022 is amounted to 849,808 tones ( “tons” is the appropriate unit of measurement for expressing the quantity of fishery production). In 2022, fishery production in Turkey witnessed a significant increase of 6.2% when compared to the previous year.
Composition of Fishery Production:
The overall fishery production was comprised of the following components:
Catched sea fish: 30%
Catched other sea products: 5.6%
Catched inland water products: 3.9%
Aquaculture products: 60.6%
Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology:
The pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors are key components of the bio-economy, involving the development of medicines and biotech products using biological resources. Turkish pharmaceutical industry comprises approximately 785 companies, 96 pharmaceutical and radiopharmaceutical manufacturers that operate at international standards, and 12 raw material production facilities. The value of the Turkish pharmaceutical and healthcare products market increased by 28.8% in 2021 to TRY 68 billion, and its unit volume increased by 7.1% to 2.6 billion. The market for healthcare products, which includes pharmaceuticals, Baby formulas, diet food for special medical purposes, and vitamin supplements approved by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Forestry. The pharmaceuticals and biotechnology sector accounts for about 5% of Turkey’s GDP.
Bioenergy and Biofuels: Bioenergy and biofuels play a crucial role in reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and addressing the challenges posed by climate change. In Turkey, biofuels currently contribute to one percent of the country’s fuel requirements, and it is projected that this figure will surge to approximately seven percent by 2023. The nation’s biofuel production is substantial, with around 1.5 million tons of biodiesel and 3 million tons of bioethanol being manufactured annually. Turkey’s primary source of bioethanol is sugar beets, with an annual production of 15 tons. Corn and wheat also contribute significantly, with production rates of 4.3 and 20 tons per year, respectively. In addition to these crops, various biomass sources, such as grain dust, wheat straw, and hazelnut shells, are harnessed for bioenergy production. The advantage of utilizing biomass as an energy source lies in its year-round availability, ensuring a consistent and sustainable supply for meeting energy needs. This makes biomass a promising and environmentally friendly resource in Turkey’s ongoing efforts to reduce fossil fuel dependency and combat climate change.