Bringing together agriculture, food, art, economics and science around the same table for three days, the BBM Kitchen Talks left their mark on IDMA Istanbul 2026 under the theme “The Pleasure Collection of Civilization.” Bringing together renowned speakers, industry leaders, academics and professionals on a common platform, the event combined knowledge sharing, gastronomic experiences and industry interaction, becoming one of the most popular attractions of the exhibition. Alongside the talks, freshly prepared pizzas, simits and other bakery products transformed BBM Kitchen from a simple event space into one of IDMA’s social and intellectual hubs.

As one of the world’s leading exhibitions for milling, grain processing, feed, pasta and food technologies, IDMA Istanbul 2026 welcomed industry professionals from across the globe to Istanbul. Among the exhibition’s most remarkable attractions was BBM Kitchen, an initiative created by BBM Magazine. First launched in 2024 and quickly becoming one of the exhibition’s signature events thanks to overwhelming interest, BBM Kitchen returned this year with a broader content programme, a stronger line-up of speakers and a truly cross-disciplinary approach.

Moderated by agricultural and food writer Mine Ataman and held under the main sponsorship of Özmen Flour, the event was far more than a series of discussions focusing solely on the industry’s technical agenda. Covering an extensive range of topics—from the future of agriculture to neuroscience, gastronomy to economics, and cultural heritage to climate change—BBM Kitchen offered participants diverse perspectives while evolving into a platform that examined the relationship between production and consumption from multiple dimensions.

At the heart of this year’s programme was the theme “The Pleasure Collection of Civilization,” which explored food not merely from the perspective of production and consumption, but also through its cultural, economic, psychological and scientific dimensions that have shaped human history. Throughout the event, the talks demonstrated how the journey of a single grain of wheat from field to table is also the story of the development of civilizations, interpreted through the perspectives of different disciplines.

Rich Content Spanning Agriculture, Art, Economics and Neuroscience

One of the defining characteristics of the programme was its ability to bring together distinguished figures from a wide range of disciplines around the same table. Among the speakers were Dr. Ayşegül Selışık, FAO Deputy Representative in Türkiye; economist Abdurrahman Yıldırım; Prof. Dr. Hüsamettin Koçan, Founder of the Baksı Museum; meteorology and disaster management expert Prof. Dr. Mikdat Kadıoğlu; neuroscientist Dr. Kerem Dündar; psychologist Dr. Hilal Bebek; journalist Celal Toprak; agricultural writer Gazi Kutlu; sociologist Barış Erdoğan; chef Elif Edes Tapan; environmental advocate Hasan Ünlü; chef and activist Özge Şahin Oyalı, along with numerous representatives from different segments of the industry. Together, they shared their expertise and experiences with visitors on the BBM Kitchen stage.

Despite the diversity of topics, the speakers conveyed a common message: agriculture and food can no longer be evaluated solely through production capacity. Instead, food must be considered in conjunction with culture, psychology, technology, the environment and economics. The discussions repeatedly underscored that the future of the industry will be shaped by cross-disciplinary collaboration and a broader understanding of the role food plays in society.

Knowledge, Flavour and Experience Came Together at the Same Table

BBM Kitchen was far more than a stage for panel discussions. Throughout the exhibition, the venue evolved into one of IDMA Istanbul’s liveliest social gathering points, where insightful conversations were complemented by freshly prepared pizzas, simits, breads, bakery products and a variety of refreshments served to visitors. Even after the sessions concluded, industry professionals continued gathering around the same table to exchange ideas, strengthen professional relationships and lay the foundations for future collaborations.

One of the greatest strengths of trade exhibitions is the opportunity they provide for face-to-face interaction, and BBM Kitchen embodied this spirit throughout the event. Visitors not only attended the talks but also had the chance to engage directly with speakers, meet industry representatives and establish new professional connections based on shared interests. In this respect, BBM Kitchen emerged as a vibrant social platform that complemented IDMA Istanbul’s technology- and business-oriented structure.

The remarkable crowds that gathered around the stand during the sessions demonstrated the strong interest the event attracted throughout the exhibition. Many visitors remained at the venue long after the talks had ended, continuing their conversations in an informal setting. As a result, BBM Kitchen became much more than a place where information was delivered; it evolved into a dynamic meeting point reflecting the collaborative, innovative and forward-looking spirit of the grain and food industries.

Shaping the Food Systems of the Future Together

One of the most distinctive aspects of BBM Kitchen was its ability to examine agriculture and food beyond purely technical issues. Throughout the sessions, experts from economics, art, psychology, neuroscience, environmental sciences and meteorology came together to share their perspectives on the future of food systems, highlighting how different disciplines increasingly intersect in addressing the challenges facing the global food chain.

Dr. Ayşegül Selışık, FAO Deputy Representative in Türkiye, emphasized the international character of IDMA Istanbul, describing it as an important platform that brings together industry representatives from across the world. She noted that events such as BBM Kitchen add significant value to the exhibition by creating opportunities for dialogue beyond commercial activities. Stressing that grain- and carbohydrate-based foods will continue to form the foundation of human nutrition despite changing consumption habits, Selışık underlined that bread will remain an indispensable part of people’s diets and that the continued development of the grain sector therefore carries strategic importance.

One of Türkiye’s leading authorities on meteorology and disaster management, Prof. Dr. Mikdat Kadıoğlu, addressed the widely discussed claim circulating on social media that “Israel is stealing Türkiye’s rain.” Explaining atmospheric processes and the limitations of cloud seeding technology in a clear and accessible manner, Kadıoğlu highlighted the importance of scientific evidence in combating misinformation. His presentation attracted considerable attention from visitors and once again demonstrated that BBM Kitchen provides a platform not only for sectoral issues but also for scientifically addressing topics of broad public interest.

Meanwhile, neuroscientist Dr. Kerem Dündar emphasized that nutrition extends far beyond food production, representing a multidimensional field that directly affects human health. He pointed out that food manufacturers bear responsibility not only for producing quality products but also for communicating accurate information to consumers. According to Dündar, trade exhibitions should be viewed not merely as venues for commercial transactions, but also as environments where lasting friendships, knowledge exchange and long-term partnerships are cultivated.

Through discussions ranging from economics and cultural heritage to psychology and gastronomy, the BBM Kitchen Talks successfully brought together diverse perspectives on the future of agriculture and food. This multidisciplinary approach became one of the defining characteristics that distinguished the event from conventional exhibition seminars.

Industry Leaders Gathered at BBM Kitchen

Throughout IDMA Istanbul 2026, BBM Kitchen welcomed not only its distinguished speakers but also leading representatives of the grain and food industries. Among the prominent visitors were Ahmet Güldal, Chairman of the Board and General Manager of the Turkish Grain Board (TMO); Mesut Çakmak, Chairman of the Turkish Flour Industrialists’ Federation (TUSAF); Ali Habaj, IAOM MEA Regional Director; Muhammet Ali Kalkan, Chairman of the HAGE Group; Erhan Özmen, Chairman of Özmen Flour; and many other senior industry professionals. Their participation in the talks and interactions with visitors further enriched the exhibition’s collaborative atmosphere.

With this strong level of engagement, BBM Kitchen naturally evolved into a meeting point where industry representatives returned throughout the day to reconnect with colleagues, exchange ideas and hold informal discussions. For visitors arriving from different exhibition halls, it became a welcoming communication hub—a place to take a short break from the pace of the exhibition while engaging in meaningful conversations and discovering new perspectives.

An Exemplary Event Brought to Life Through Strong Partnerships

The successful and uninterrupted organization of BBM Kitchen throughout the exhibition was made possible through strong industry partnerships. As the main sponsor of the event, Özmen Flour played a key role in bringing the organization to life, while Memak Makina supported the operation with professional bakery equipment, ensuring that production processes ran smoothly. Equipped with an industrial baking oven, dough mixer, refrigerator and other professional equipment, the kitchen produced freshly baked bread and bakery products that were served to visitors throughout the exhibition, adding warmth and hospitality to the event. By combining live production with knowledge sharing, BBM Kitchen developed a unique identity where theory met practice. While the talks continued, freshly prepared products were served to visitors, creating a natural gathering place amid the busy exhibition schedule.

A Meeting Point Reflecting the Spirit of the Exhibition

While IDMA Istanbul continued to serve as a major international platform bringing together technology suppliers, investors and industry professionals from around the world, BBM Kitchen added a human dimension to the exhibition by strengthening communication and bringing together experts from different disciplines around the same table.

The sessions covered not only the latest developments in flour milling, pasta, bakery and grain processing, but also broader issues such as changing consumer behaviour, sustainability, climate change, cultural heritage, neuroscience, economics and gastronomy. In doing so, BBM Kitchen became more than a platform for sharing information; it evolved into a cross-disciplinary environment where different perspectives came together.

The direct interaction between speakers and visitors, the conversations that continued after each session and the welcoming atmosphere created throughout the exhibition demonstrated that BBM Kitchen was far more than a conventional conference venue. The constantly busy seating area, the aroma of freshly baked bread, spontaneous meetings among industry professionals and conversations that led to new collaborations made BBM Kitchen one of the liveliest meeting points of IDMA Istanbul 2026.

BBM Kitchen Is Becoming an IDMA Tradition

First introduced in 2024, BBM Kitchen took another important step towards becoming one of IDMA Istanbul’s signature events with its second edition, distinguished by high-quality content, strong visitor interest and a cross-disciplinary approach. Built around the theme “The Pleasure Collection of Civilization,” the programme approached agriculture and food not only from the perspectives of production and trade, but also through the shared culture, lifestyle and future of humanity, bringing a different perspective to the exhibition.

Bringing together knowledge, experience and flavour around the same table, BBM Kitchen became a place where hundreds of visitors stopped by, leading figures of the industry came together, new ideas emerged and lasting collaborations began. Complementing IDMA Istanbul 2026’s focus on technology and trade with a social, cultural and intellectual dimension, the event earned its place in participants’ memories as one of the exhibition’s liveliest and most engaging meeting points.