SUSTAINABLE HAZELNUT AGRICULTURE

We are aware that the agriculture has a critical importance regarding the sustainability of our corporate activities, as our main raw material comes from soil. We think that the biodiversity needs to be protected by supporting sustainable agriculture as our country has a special place in the world, given its product diversity in agriculture. Therefore, to support biodiversity in our country with hazelnut agriculture as we use hazelnuts profusely in our productions, we are carrying on “Sustainable Hazelnut Agriculture” project in cooperation with WWF-Turkey, which is a global environmental organization. The basis of our project lies in “Human’s future in harmony with nature” approach, and the idea that natural life and biodiversity need to coexist in the hazelnut production fields.

According to United National Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Turkey, as the largest hazelnut producer and exporter, is producing 70% of worldwide hazelnut production and is completing 82% of world hazelnut exportation. Hazelnut agriculture needs different practices than common agricultural practices, because of its perennial character and the topographical structure of the production fields.

Our main objective is to show that hazelnut production can be developed further in terms of ecological sustainability as well as its economic and social sustainability in hazelnut production regions, Giresun being in the first place. The project aims to demonstrate and evaluate the current situation, also to find out Giresun’s inventory for hazelnut agriculture and to develop necessary solutions so that the hazelnut agriculture is continuing in harmony with the nature. We intend to create best practices by choosing a pilot region in Giresun and developing applications and capacity.

In the long term, we would like to see Turkey as setting an example among hazelnut farming countries in terms of sustainability in hazelnut farming and protection of biodiversity with this project we initiated in 2015.