100% domestic sunflower seeds were introduced to Turkish agriculture

The project initiated by Yudum and Seed Association four years ago has achieved significant success. Developed within the framework of a social responsibility project, the 100% domestic sunflower seed, YDM 2239, which has been proven to be more productive than the sunflower seeds currently being cultivated, has been introduced to Turkish agriculture.

Launched in 2021, the Domestic Sunflower Seed Development and Farmer Support Project has achieved exemplary results through collaboration between the public, industry, and civil society. Various agricultural research institutes across the country, including the Thrace Agricultural Research Institute, provided technical support for the project. As part of the project initiated by Yudum in collaboration with the Seed Association in 2021, the productive and resilient domestic sunflower seed YDM 2239 was registered and made available to farmers.

Yudum and the Seed Association set out in 2021 to develop high-yielding domestic sunflower seeds and enhance diversity. As part of the Domestic Sunflower Seed Development and Farmer Support Project, trial plantings were conducted annually in Turkey's major sunflower production centers, including Thrace, Konya, Adana, and this year in Eskişehir. A network of leading farmers involved in the project was established, providing them with seed support as well as face-to-face training and technical assistance.

The seed named YDM 2239, inspired by the Yudum brand, was planted in trial fields in Thrace, Konya, and Adana. According to the data obtained, YDM 2239 ranked highest in terms of yield and oil content in post-harvest analyses. Its remarkable feature is its high productivity both in irrigated and rain-fed conditions. Trials in Konya showed yields of up to 235 kilograms per hectare, with an oil content reaching 45%. According to information obtained from contributing institutions, another notable feature of YDM 2239 is its high tolerance to diseases and pests, providing resilience against extraordinary conditions that may occur during the season. Additionally, the inclined head of the sunflower derived from this seed provides a significant advantage against sunburn and bird damage. Considering its competitive price compared to other varieties, YDM 2239 is expected to be preferred by farmers.

Speaking at the launch event of the new domestic seed variety YDM 2239, Houmer Balazadeh, General Manager of Savola Food Turkey, stated, "At Yudum, we believe in the possibility of discovering a better tomorrow. A better tomorrow means increasing productivity by better utilizing resources in sunflower farming. With this understanding, we initiated the Domestic Sunflower Seed Development and Farmer Support Project, meeting with producer farmers in Turkey's most important sunflower production centers for four years now. As an industry first, we have implemented a valuable project through collaboration between the public, civil society, and the private sector; we have obtained the registration of the new domestic seed variety YDM 2239 and made it available to Turkish farmers. Since 2021, we have conducted a total of 23 seed trials involving leading farmers participating in the project. We have conducted analyses on harvested crops every harvest season. We are proud and happy to have obtained the registration of the most productive seed YDM 2239 in terms of parameters such as germination, oil content, and yield per hectare. We have also succeeded in bringing domestic seeds to the agenda of farmers. We will continue to promote our domestic seed varieties. Our goal is to increase productivity and hence local production."

Speaking at the launch event, Musa Kaya, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Seed Association, emphasized that the new domestic seed variety YDM 2239 will support the increase in domestic production. Kaya said, "The Domestic Sunflower Seed Development and Farmer Support Project, conducted in cooperation with Savola Food Turkey, makes a significant contribution to sunflower producers and agriculture in Turkey. In the first year of the project, we formed a network of farmers. The network, which is strengthening every year, currently includes a total of 1,000 farmers. Farmers from Thrace, Konya, Adana, and this year from Eskişehir have joined the farmer network. We continue to provide face-to-face training, technical application, and domestic seed support to farmers. We are happy to collaborate with the industry leader Savola Food Turkey in a project that will increase domestic sunflower production and to introduce YDM 2239 to Turkish agriculture."