Minister Yumaklı stated that climate change is not a risk of the future, but a burning reality of today, and that this fact that transcends borders concerns the whole world and said, "The fertility of the land, the efficient management of water and the uninterrupted establishment of food supply security are no longer just an economic issue, but a national and global security issue." he said.
Minister Yumaklı spoke at the Food, Agriculture and Health Day Side Event, hosted by Türkiye in Antalya and held on the margins of the 31st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), the world's most important organization in the fight against climate change.
Pointing out that global climate change is no longer a risk of the future, but a burning reality of today, and that this fact that transcends borders concerns the whole world, Yumaklı said, "Agriculture and our water resources are undoubtedly one of the sectors most directly and deeply affected by the climate crisis. The fertility of the soil, the efficient management of water and the uninterrupted establishment of food supply security are no longer just an economic issue, but a national and global security issue." he said.
Yumaklı underlined that, as the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, they have implemented many structural reforms, from agricultural production planning to smart agricultural technologies, from drought-resistant seed breeding to digital water management, and said:
"Our goal is to protect our natural resources and to make the food needs of our growing population sustainable. The issue of combating the climate crisis is an issue that transcends borders and requires all-out solidarity. We know and believe that the permanent and sustainable nature of all the policies we implement in the field is only possible with the guidance of science, R&D and academia."
Pointing out that it is of critical importance that the side events opened with the speech today meet with the academic world under the leadership of YÖK, Yumaklı thanked YÖK President Erol Özvar to all universities and scientists who contribute to climate-resistant agricultural technologies, smart food systems and raising environmentally conscious generations.
Yumaklı emphasized that this synergy combining academia and the field will be the greatest fuel of green transformation, and that the steps taken here today and the three side events initiated on agriculture, food and health are indicators of Türkiye's COP31 vision and the strong contribution it will make to global climate diplomacy.
Yumaklı pointed out that in the following sessions, very important solutions to the global climate crisis will be presented under the headings of food supply security, water policies and sustainable agriculture, and concluded his words as follows:
"I hope that the ideas put forward here will be beneficial for both our countries and all humanity. We will continue to bring the world together in a greener future with determination in our COP31 journey. I would like to thank all participants, hope that the events in our pavilion will be productive, and I greet you with respect."
President of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar stated that the pressure of climate change on production makes scientific knowledge and qualified human resources in agriculture even more important and said, "I would like to express that our universities should assume more responsibility in this field in order to protect the production opportunities of future generations while meeting their needs today." he said.
Pointing out that their most important duty as YÖK is to increase the quality of the human resources that Türkiye needs, Özvar said:
"The most permanent contribution we can make to the future of agriculture is well-educated young people. Today, while the number of students registered in our Agricultural Faculties is 45 thousand, approximately 20 thousand young people are studying in the field of veterinary medicine, including our graduate students. Our responsibility is to teach these young people their lessons well and to ensure that they graduate with the equipment to use new technologies."
