14 Jun “The Future of Food: Air, Water, Soil” Seminar
“The Future of Food: Air, Water, Soil” Seminar Held for the Third Time
The “Future of Food: Air, Water, Soil” seminar, organized for the third time by the Gastronomic Society of Türkiye with the product sponsorship of Ingredy, was held on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the Nadir Gastronomy Platform.
The event served as a significant platform for the gastronomy community to discuss the origins and safety of food. Speakers addressed topics such as climate policies, drought-resistant agriculture, bio-pesticides, and water pollution—exploring the foundations of good food through the lenses of air, water, and soil.
Moderated by Esin Sungur (President of the Gastronomic Society of Türkiye), advisory board member and journalist Zeynep Kakınç, and Ingredy co-founder and society member Betül Bildik, the seminar featured six sessions:
•Climate Reality and Its Link to Food
•Human Health and Livestock under the Cycle of Air Pollution
•The Phenomenon of Water Scarcity in Water Management; Practices for Drought-Resilient Agriculture
•Impacts of Climate Crisis on Water Sources: Loss of Wetlands, Pollution, Mucilage and Reflections on Food Safety
•Polluted Soil: Mismanagement, Pesticides and Waste
•Where Is the Solution? Regenerative Agriculture and Practical Applications
Speakers included:
•Önder Algedik (Climate and Energy Expert)
•Assoc. Prof. Nilüfer Aykaç (Acıbadem University, Faculty of Medicine – Turkish Thoracic Society Board Member)
•Merve Bektaş (Veterinarian and Farmer – Founder of “Veteriner Anne Çiftliği”)
•Neyran Akyıldız (WWF Turkey, Communication Program Manager)
•Prof. Dr. Nuray Erkan (Istanbul University, Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, Head of Food Safety Department)
•Dr. Erol Kesici (Founder of the Water Institute, Süleyman Demirel University – Member of Water Supreme Board of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry)
•Berkan Özyer (Director of Greenpeace Turkey)
•Elif Ovalı (Founder of Teofarm and Hasat)
•Prof. Dr. Umut Toprak (Director of the Molecular Entomology Lab, Ankara University Faculty of Agriculture)
The sessions addressed a wide range of issues such as:
•Shrinking agricultural lands due to urban sprawl and cement coverage
•Inefficient water management and drying of freshwater lakes
•Overuse of prohibited pesticides and viable alternatives
•Increasing pollution and mucilage threatening fisheries
Key takeaways from the seminar included:
• The need for a clear and comprehensive Water Law, as the overlapping authorities in water management lead to inefficiencies
• Implementation and strict supervision of effective water treatment systems to combat mucilage
• Ending flood irrigation in agriculture: “If our climate is dry, our farming cannot be wet.”
• Protection of the remaining natural freshwater lakes and developing the necessary infrastructure
• Preventing the reduction of soil and agricultural lands due to landfills, construction, and paving
• Fighting air pollution that directly and indirectly impacts human and plant health; limiting plastic use
• Supporting circular farming systems that integrate agriculture and livestock, eliminating chemical pesticides, and emphasizing compost-based fertilization
• Monitoring the progress of bio-pesticide research in Türkiye as a promising alternative to harmful agricultural chemicals
• Creating a transparent and auditable system by involving all stakeholders in policy-making to ensure access to safe, high-quality food produced through good agricultural practices in a healthy environment
All sessions from the “Air, Water, Soil” seminar can be watched on the Gastronomic Society of Türkiye’s YouTube channel
