The opening ceremony of the Şanlıurfa Chamber of Commerce and Industry Food Research and Analysis Center (ŞUTSO GAAM), which was established in cooperation with TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center (MAM) and Şanlıurfa Chamber of Commerce and Industry within the scope of the INNOFOOD Project implemented within the framework of the Competitive Sectors Program carried out by the Ministry of Industry and Technology, was held with the participation of Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır and TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal.
Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır stated that they established the Food Innovation Center and Turkey Food Innovation Platform (TÜGİP) with INNOFOOD, Turkey's largest food, R&D and innovation project under the leadership of TUBITAK, and launched the Food Innovation Center as the solution partner of the food and beverage industry:
"Within the scope of this project, we are establishing pilot production facilities and food safety laboratories in four leading cities in the food industry. With the Şanlıurfa Food Research and Analysis Laboratory with a budget of 1.5 million euros, which we inaugurated today, we are bringing the testing infrastructure needed by our companies operating in the sectors of clarified butter, milk and dairy products, spices, feed, oil seeds, dried fruits and vegetables in Şanlıurfa and neighboring provinces to our city. We aim to maximize our food product safety with this laboratory equipped with the latest technologies. By providing quality control processes at international standards, we will provide competitive advantage to food producers in our city and region. Our goal is to sprout new technological food initiatives from our country, to integrate the production capabilities of our food industry with our technology development infrastructure and to become the address of technology-oriented production in food. I believe that in the coming period, we will produce at least one leading technology startup in this field, just like Turkey's automobile project. We will continue to support every investment that will add value to our country tomorrow as we do today. We know and believe that the greatest reward in our cause of serving our beloved nation is the consent of Allah, the appreciation and prayers of our nation. Allah is the helper of those who work, who strive, who shed sweat of forehead and mind for this nation, for this homeland. Our nation is always on the side of those who put stone upon stone for a fully independent and prosperous Turkey. Mr. President's political life, which has been unprecedentedly successful in the world, is the clearest example of this."
Reminding that Şanlıurfa was among the 11 provinces affected by the earthquakes that occurred on February 6, Kacır wished mercy from Allah to those who lost their lives in the earthquake disaster and stated that they still feel their pain in their hearts.
Minister Kacır said that all resources were mobilized under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to heal the wounds of the earthquake disaster and that the city entered a rapid recovery process with the efforts and efforts they made for the reconstruction and reconstruction of the city.
"Exports reached 255 billion dollars, breaking the record of the history of the republic"
Wishing that this facility, which will contribute to the sustainable and technology-oriented development of the food industry, will be beneficial for Turkey and Şanlıurfa, Kacır said that in this period when the whole world is going through global contractions and crises, Turkey continues on its investment, employment, production and export route with firm steps.
Minister Kacır stated that exports reached 255.8 billion dollars last year, breaking the record of the history of the Republic, and said:
"With this figure, we exceeded our export target of 255 billion dollars in the Medium Term Program. In the third quarter of 2023, our economy grew by 5.9 percent, continuing its uninterrupted growth trend for the last 13 quarters. We have created over 4 million additional jobs in the last 3 years. While Turkey continues its growth and development in every field, Şanlıurfa, the city of prophets, the cradle of ancient cultures, continues to grow and develop with its agriculture, industry, culture and tourism, and continues to be a center of attraction in its region."
"Our students' curiosity about technology excites us greatly"
Minister Kacır stated that they know that young people will make the biggest contribution to the growth of cities in the "Turkish Century" in terms of investment, employment, production and exports, and that Turkey is transforming into a global production base step by step.
Stating that they ensure that young people take an active role in the technology journey, Kacır said that Şanlıurfa Science Center, which has an indoor area of 8 thousand square meters, will soon be put into service.
Stating that Karacadağ Development Agency and GAP Regional Development Administration have carried out projects that highlight the historical identity and local values of Şanlıurfa and breathe new life into the economic and social development of the city, Kacır noted that they provided 4.4 billion liras of support to 599 projects.
Emphasizing that they have reinforced the city's role as an agricultural production center with agricultural productivity-oriented projects carried out by the GAP Regional Development Administration, Kacır said that they prioritize R&D-oriented production in the food sector as in every field in line with the National Technology Move vision.
"A branch of TÜBİTAK has been established here"
TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal pointed out that it is a center determined according to the needs of the region and said, "When this program was planned by TÜBİTAK in 2018 as the INNOFOOD project, when we look at the needs of that day, access to food is an issue that has always been on the agenda of humanity. But especially when we look at today, we know how important and valuable it is to access food and food supply security, taking into account the climate change we are experiencing. As one of the geographies most affected and to be affected by climate change, this geography has an opportunity area in terms of access to food on the one hand, but at the same time, if the necessary measures are not taken, it may pose a threat and risk point. I think this center is very valuable both in terms of meeting the needs and creating added value."
"As TÜBİTAK, the place we will open today within this program may seem more modest, if you look at it as an area of 400 square meters. The investment is one and a half million Euros. But when this is combined with the structure in our Gebze Campus, it should be considered simultaneously with an investment of 27 million Euros." Mandal warned, "The access of our industrialists here, and especially SMEs, to this infrastructure should not be considered only within the possibilities here. At the scale-up stage, it is a place where the scale-up point for 9 different sub-sectors in TÜGİP in TÜBİTAK Gebze Campus can meet. As another infrastructure, incubation center opportunities are offered. It is important in terms of meeting the needs in the food sector, which is critical for our country and especially for the region, but it is also a competitive point and a tool that can be used to create added value."
Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal emphasized, "In other words, a branch of TÜBİTAK has been established here."
Mandal said, "At the point of creating more effective and efficient added value of this infrastructure, I believe that the close relationship with Haran University will be an opportunity for the joint use of the research infrastructure and the realization of university-industry or industry-university cooperation."
After the speech, Şanlıurfa Chamber of Commerce and Industry opened the Food Research and Analysis Center. Minister Kacır and the guests toured the center and received information from the authorities.
AK Party Şanlıurfa MPs Hikmet Başak and Mehmet Ali Cevheri, Şanlıurfa Governor Hasan Şıldak, Metropolitan Mayor Zeynel Abidin Beyazgül, TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, AK Party Şanlıurfa Provincial Chairman Ali İhsan Delioğlu and guests attended the ceremony.
Strengthen R&D activities and make a significant contribution to the region's food industry
Established as a component of the INNOFOOD Project, the laboratory aims to increase regional and international competitiveness in the food sector. The center, which was implemented by taking into account the food analysis needs in Şanlıurfa and surrounding provinces, will strengthen R&D activities with the accredited analysis service it provides to SMEs in the region and will make a significant contribution to the region's food industry.
In addition to microbiological, chemical, physical and instrumental analyzes, residue, contaminant and food quality research will also be carried out within the laboratory. Equipped with modern analytical equipment such as HPLC, GC MS and ICP-MS, the laboratory will accept individual and institutional samples as well as general chemical analyzes, and it is aimed to conduct analyzes within the scope of export and special requests. The laboratory will provide food and feed analysis services in accordance with the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and TÜRKAK ISO IEC 17025 International Laboratory Accreditation.
The laboratory aims to contribute to the innovative and competitive structure of the food industry in the region, especially for SMEs operating in the pistachio, spices, milk and dairy products, cereals, vegetables and fruits sectors. In addition, by providing specialized testing and analysis services for milk compositions, the laboratory aims to improve the quality of milk in the region and adapt to the market needs of the sector.
INNOFOOD Project stands out as an R&D and innovation-oriented project for Turkey's food and beverage sector with a budget of EUR 27 million, 85% co-financed by the European Union and 15% by the Republic of Turkey. The project supports SMEs and startups as a comprehensive infrastructure investment and capacity building project consisting of six different components in four different regions of Turkey.
