“Countries are increasingly recognizing the importance of policies regarding both the production and trade of wheat, which is of vital significance. With the pandemic, wars, and geopolitical risks, food security and the global food crisis have made agriculture, viewed as a “rising value,” a sector that now needs to be monitored and managed on a global scale. With its production capacity and quality standards, Turkey will further strengthen its leadership in the global market in flour exports.”
The Turkish flour industry has extended its global championship to an uninterrupted 11 years, despite a 17% decline in exports. Tekbaş Un, aiming to contribute to Turkey’s exports, is planning to establish a new factory in the Marmara Region. Hüseyin Emre Tekbaş, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tekbaş Un, shared with BBM Magazine the company’s 25 years of experience in the flour industry and the innovations they have brought to the sector through technology and R&D investments. He highlighted that the company’s production processes, supported by fully automated systems, sustainability-focused energy investments, and the new factory project, have strengthened their goals. Hüseyin Emre Tekbaş, who is also the Vice President of the Turkish Flour Industrialists Federation, stated that despite the challenges faced in exports, the Turkish flour sector will continue to grow, maintaining its global leadership with an innovation and quality-focused approach.
Thank you very much for accepting our interview request. What can you tell us about Tekbaş Un’s production activities, technology, and R&D efforts, which have been operating in the flour industry for a quarter of a century?
Hüseyin Emre Tekbaş
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tekbaş Un
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Our factory’s storage, cleaning, production, and packaging units are all equipped with the latest technology, fully automated systems. This innovative infrastructure ensures that we can carry out our production processes with maximum efficiency and minimal error, maintaining a continuous commitment to excellence. Every stage of production is monitored in real-time and constantly by expert, experienced teams, ensuring that quality and safety standards are never compromised throughout the process.
From the storage of wheat to its conversion into flour, all stages are carefully managed under laboratory approval. If any deviations from our standards are detected, immediate intervention takes place, and necessary adjustments are meticulously applied. All the machinery used in the process is specifically designed to achieve the highest levels of efficiency while minimizing energy consumption, thus reducing our carbon footprint. This design philosophy not only minimizes human error but also contributes to environmental sustainability.
Final and intermediate products undergo comprehensive quality control processes at our R&D center, and only fully approved products are directed to shipment. Our R&D center plays a vital role not only in product compliance checks but also in improving existing products, developing new ones based on customer demands, and establishing quality standards that meet industry requirements. This holistic approach is critical in balancing our production processes and ensuring the sustainability of our innovation-driven progress.
You use Industry 4.0 technology in your production facilities. What advantages does this provide you?
By adopting the principles of Industry 4.0, we have built our production processes on an advanced technological infrastructure. This innovative approach minimizes the likelihood of human error while significantly reducing downtime caused by maintenance, repairs, and malfunctions. All systems are continuously monitored through real-time data analysis and tracking mechanisms, allowing us to take proactive measures before any issues arise, ensuring uninterrupted operations.
Eliminating human intervention and direct contact with products completely removes hygiene risks, leading to the production of more reliable and healthier products. After the production process, automated packaging machines handle the tasks, minimizing human contact and providing a faster and more hygienic packaging process. This system not only improves product quality but also increases production speed, thereby maximizing customer satisfaction.
This Industry 4.0-driven production philosophy is a cornerstone in achieving our goals of reliability, efficiency, and sustainability.
Would you like to provide information about your production and storage capacity?
Our facility has a strong infrastructure in the industry, with a storage capacity of 50,000 tons of wheat, 3,000 tons of flour, and 1,000 tons of packaged products. Our daily production capacity of 1,000 tons of flour has been further expanded with new investments, now supported by the production of 1,200 tons of packaging and 100 tons of mixed flour.
Thanks to our high-quality standards and awareness-driven production, our products have become the first choice of customers who prioritize precision and quality in their production processes. This approach not only strengthens customer satisfaction but also reinforces our leadership in the industry.
PLANNING TO ESTABLISH A FACTORY IN MARMARA FOR NEW MARKETS
Would you like to share your new investment plans for the upcoming period with us?
As Tekbaş Un, we plan to make a new investment in a flour mill in the Marmara Region. This strategic investment aims to provide logistical advantages for our local markets while increasing our global market presence through exports from the Marmara Region.
Our investment will not only strengthen our operational efficiency but also contribute to the regional economy, accelerating our growth strategies. By leveraging Marmara’s strategic location, we aim to establish a stronger presence in both domestic and international markets.
KONYA’S FLOUR PRODUCTION REACHES 3.5 MILLION TONS
You are a company that processes wheat grown in the Konya Plain, often referred to as the “breadbasket of Turkey.” What advantages does Konya provide in terms of raw materials?
Konya, which accounts for 10% of Turkey’s wheat production, has a well-developed and widespread flour industry. With 50 flour mills, Konya has an annual production capacity of around 3.5 million tons of flour.
Known as Turkey’s grain warehouse, Konya is a province recognized for consistently producing above-average yields in all wheat products. Konya’s flour industry, which offers products catering to premium markets such as baklava, pastry, yufka, and bread, consists of well-established brands that are well-recognized throughout Turkey. This provides a significant advantage for all our companies when entering new markets with “Konya flour” branding. In Turkey, the average per capita annual consumption of flour and flour-based products is 160 kilograms. Flour production, which is a key input for the production of staple food items such as bread, pasta, and bakery goods, holds an indispensable place in Turkish food consumption habits and is one of the oldest agricultural-based industrial sectors in both Turkey and Konya.
Could you provide information about the solar energy plant you established in Konya? Does this investment cover all your energy needs? What advantages has it brought you in terms of sustainability?
As Tekbaş Un, we took a significant step in renewable energy by completing a solar energy plant with an installed capacity of 6,572.50 kW in September 2024. This investment, located in Konya, makes a major contribution to environmental sustainability by preventing the emission of 4,871,231 kg of CO2 annually. This amount has an environmental impact equivalent to the planting of 727,049 trees in terms of carbon emissions.
Our plant, with an annual energy production capacity of 10,364,500 kWh, aims to contribute to the conservation of natural resources and the reduction of the carbon footprint by preventing the use of 3,713 tons of coal. With this investment, we are not only adopting an environmentally conscious production approach but also fulfilling our responsibility to leave a cleaner and more livable world for future generations.
At Tekbaş Un, we are committed to prioritizing our sustainability goals across all areas and will continue to develop nature-respecting and forward-looking solutions.
Turkish flour companies have experienced significant losses in export markets, especially in the past 6 months. As the Vice President of TFIF, could you share with us the challenges the sector has faced?
The 17% decline in exports within the Turkish flour sector, particularly in the last 6 months, has drawn attention, but it has not shaken our confidence in the overall performance and production capacity of the sector. With Turkey’s wheat flour exports in 2024 reaching 3 million 60 thousand tons, bringing in 1.16 billion dollars in foreign exchange, and maintaining its position as the world leader in flour exports, it is clear that the sector continues to hold a strong position in global markets.
The period between June 21 and October 15, 2024, during which the Turkish Grain Board (TMO) limited wheat imports to support sustainable grain production, was a factor affecting export performance. However, this decision is valuable in terms of protecting producers against cost increases and supporting the country’s agricultural production potential. Despite the competitive challenges in global flour exports, the Turkish flour industry has maintained its export leadership, demonstrating the determination of our manufacturers and their quality-focused approach.
These developments emphasize the importance of strategic planning, innovative solutions, and sustainable agricultural policies within the sector. We believe that this temporary decline in export performance will be compensated through the sector’s resilience and long-term vision. With its production capacity and quality standards, Turkey will further strengthen its leadership in the global market.
We are a country that exports wheat flour to many parts of the world. However, this year’s wheat import ban has negatively affected the sector. On one hand, there is the expensive wheat stock held by the country, and on the other, the lost export markets... Is there no middle ground for this?
The decisions made by the Grain Management Office (TMO) at the beginning of the season have been of strategic importance for the sustainability of grain production. However, it is also a fact that maintaining the market share Turkish flour industry has gained globally is equally vital. After discussions with decision-makers, a balanced solution addressing the needs of the sector has been developed, allowing these two objectives to be aligned in a way that works for both.
In the first phase, flour millers were granted the right to use 85% domestic and 15% imported wheat. Considering TMO’s stock situation and market conditions, this ratio has now been adjusted to 75% domestic and 25% imported raw materials. I believe that, over time, decisions will be made at a common ground for all stakeholders in the sector. This flexible approach aims to protect domestic producers while ensuring the continued global competitiveness of the Turkish flour industry.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, together with TMO, has the capacity to make quick and effective decisions that take into account the shared interests of all stakeholders in the sector, which is a significant advantage for the future of the flour industry. This collaboration ensures the strategic alignment and solidarity required for the Turkish flour sector to maintain its world leadership. I believe that this approach will continue in the future and contribute to the sector’s national and international successes.
How do you expect the wheat yield to be in Turkey and the Konya Plain this year?
In the Konya Plain, about 95% of the grain planting has been completed. With the exception of sugar beet fields, where planting was delayed, farmers have completed their sowing. The mild weather experienced intermittently during the winter allowed for the sowing of areas that had not been planted. The area sown with wheat is expected to be about 5% higher than last year. Although rainfall between October and December showed a 30-35% decrease compared to normal levels and last year, no issues were observed with plant emergence. Due to the delayed planting this year, plant emergence has been somewhat later. The rainy weather in December provided the necessary moisture for seed germination, preventing seed deterioration. According to meteorological reports, January 2025 is expected to be rainy. It is still too early to talk about plant development and yield expectations. The rainfall distribution in February, March, and April will help us predict expectations. We wish all farmers a fruitful season, and hopefully, we will receive the desired rainfall for a plentiful harvest season.
What should be done to increase wheat production and ensure its sustainability as a strategic product to protect the country from global risks?
An average annual harvest of 20 million tons of wheat is obtained from all regions of our country, where wheat can be cultivated. Although wheat productivity in Turkey has increased over the years, the desired quality level has unfortunately not been achieved. This situation is generally due to wheat being sown in dry lands. Significant progress has been made in improving quality over the past 15 years through practices such as breeding efforts, control of wheat stem sawfly, use of certified seeds, advancements in cultivation techniques, and crop rotation.
Countries are increasingly recognizing the importance of policies regarding both the production and trade of wheat, which is of vital significance. With the pandemic, wars, and geopolitical risks, food security and the global food crisis have made agriculture, viewed as a “rising value,” a sector that now needs to be monitored and managed on a global scale. In the agricultural and food sector, concepts such as information, technology, quality, standards, pricing, competition, industry, and manufacturing have gained importance. In our country, the agricultural sector has undergone significant structural transformations over the past 20 years. Policies have been implemented to shape the future of agriculture. Recently implemented initiatives such as production planning, crop production contracts, changes in the farmer registration system regulations, and the establishment of the National Water Board have provided an opportunity for agricultural production, especially grains, to become more sustainable. The goal here is to balance grain production with the country’s needs. Population growth, the migrant population, increasing tourism, aid to our region, and the turmoil in our geography directly impact consumption. Therefore, especially in light of support policies, the reduction of planting areas for wheat due to declining production profitability and the shift of farmers to other products, the target should be to increase wheat cultivation back to 8 million hectares through production planning. The sustainability of wheat production will depend on the wheat producer’s ability to generate sufficient income from this activity. It is crucial to protect domestic producers while also safeguarding the industry against foreign competition.
Could you provide information about your active roles in civil society organizations, such as the Chairmanship of the Board of Directors of Tekbaş Un, your position as Chairman of the Board of the Central Anatolian Flour Industrialists Association, and your role as Vice President of the Turkish Flour Industrialists Federation (TFIF)?
I was born in 1984 in Konya. During my university years, while studying at the Faculty of Business Administration at Selçuk University, I had the opportunity to work in our family business, Tekbaş Un. This experience allowed me to observe both the theoretical and practical aspects of the business simultaneously. Throughout my career, I became familiar with the requirements of being a young manager and taking on responsibilities. With the knowledge and skills I gained in business, I took on responsibilities for both our company and our employees. Additionally, by assuming leadership roles in professional organizations, I gained valuable experience in sectors that affect our industry, striving to contribute to the sector with these experiences.
This professional journey has given me an in-depth perspective on understanding and managing the dynamics of the business world. The management experience I gained at a young age developed my problem-solving skills and enabled me to play an active role in strategic decision-making processes. My work at Tekbaş Un contributed to the growth and sustainability of our business while also providing significant personal and professional development opportunities.
Turkey’s importance in the agricultural and agriculture-based industrial sector is further emphasized by the central position of the Konya Plain in this field. To overcome the challenges in this critical sector and ensure a sustainable operation, maintaining constant dialogue with sector stakeholders and decision-makers, and engaging in consultations with reasonable and logical requests, are among our top priorities. Our goal is to provide the best service to the sector, region, and our country, contributing to the development of agriculture at both the local and national levels.
In this context, as Tekbaş Un, we continue our efforts to overcome the challenges faced by the agricultural sector and ensure sustainable growth through cooperation and constant communication. Our aim is to make solid steps for the future by contributing to the development of agriculture both locally and nationally.