“Transformation in Agriculture is Inevitable in the Face of Climate Change”
Melisa Tokgöz Mutlu, Member of the Board of Directors of the Türkiye Exporters Assembly and Chairperson of the Agricultural Board, emphasized that rising temperatures, drought, and extreme precipitation are undermining agricultural productivity, stating, “Sustainable agricultural practices are no longer a choice, but a necessity.”
Melisa Tokgöz Mutlu, Chairperson of the Agricultural Board of the Türkiye Exporters Assembly, offered an assessment of the impact of climate change on the agricultural sector. Highlighting that rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and drought not only affect producers but also directly impact consumers, she remarked, “Globally, agriculture ranks among the sectors most adversely affected by climate change. This phenomenon also poses significant threats to food supply security and economic stability.”
“Global trade has been disrupted”
Recalling that, as of 2023, drought has caused serious challenges in major global waterways, Mutlu noted that water levels in the Mississippi, Rhine, and Yangtze rivers have receded, while insufficient water in the Panama Canal has disrupted global trade. In certain regions, excessive rainfall and flooding have replaced drought, damaging production facilities and leading to disruptions in supply chains.
Persistent pressure on food prices
Citing scientific studies, Mutlu stated that climate change could elevate food costs annually by between 1.49% and 1.79%, adding that this, in turn, exerts an additional inflationary pressure of between 0.76% and 0.91%. According to analyses by the European Central Bank and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, global warming could push food inflation up to 3.23% by 2035.
Meteorological disasters on the rise in Türkiye
Mutlu noted that meteorological disasters such as frost, tornadoes, floods, hailstorms, and extreme heat have significantly increased in Türkiye in recent years, stating, “These disasters reduce production efficiency and cause cascading disruptions in logistics and supply processes. Economic losses from floods have become the second largest category of natural disaster damage after earthquakes.”
“Sustainable agriculture is now a necessity”
Emphasizing the need to expand sustainable agricultural practices to enhance the sector's resilience against climate change, Mutlu stated, “Efficient use of water, promotion of biological control methods, development of drought-resistant crop patterns, and reduction of production-consumption losses are of paramount importance for building a more resilient agricultural infrastructure in the future.”
Underscoring that a transition to innovative and sustainable practices is inevitable for both farmers and all stakeholders in the sector, Mutlu affirmed that these steps would not only support economic stability but also contribute to the preservation of ecosystems and the global fight against climate change.