With a vision to offer sustainable and innovative solutions in the agricultural sector, Hektaş, a leader in its field with its R&D efforts, will continue its work in developing local and domestic seeds under the Hektaş Tohum brand.
Emphasizing that Hektaş represents a vision and mission in agriculture, OYAK General Manager Süleyman Savaş Erdem stated, "Hektaş exemplifies OYAK’s consciousness and awareness in taking responsibility within strategic sectors that shape our country’s future. Achieving successful results in seed breeding—an area crucial for food security and food sovereignty—Hektaş is on its way to becoming first a regional and then a global seed brand."
OYAK Chemistry and Agriculture subsidiary Hektaş, a pioneer in Turkey’s agricultural sector, is taking a new step in the field of seeds. Known for its recent emphasis on R&D investments, Hektaş supports national agriculture through its work in local seed development. In the last four years, Hektaş has registered a total of 25 seed varieties in the field crop and vegetable categories. Continuing its activities under the name Areo Tohumculuk, it will now operate as Hektaş Tohum.
During a press conference held at the F.A.R.M. facility in Orhangazi, Bursa, Hektaş General Manager Enis Emre Terzi shared information on Hektaş’s activities and R&D efforts. “Considering factors like population growth, seasonal conditions, climate change, and decreasing agricultural land, the value of efficient agricultural practices is increasing daily. Seeds, the foundation of sustainable food, have become a strategic asset for countries. Accordingly, seed breeding plays a critical role in access to food and food security for nations. As the company with the largest R&D investment in the sector in Turkey, we have long led and innovated in the fields of seeds, plant protection, and plant nutrition,” he said.
Terzi further explained that they would now continue the seed development activities previously carried out under Areo Tohumculuk with the Hektaş brand: “With Hektaş’s 68-year history, its brand awareness among farmers is at 100%, and its satisfaction rate has been over 90% for the past eight years. Empowered by the trust placed in Hektaş, we will continue as Hektaş Tohum. We believe this step will significantly strengthen us in both domestic and international markets.”
Highlighting that 25 domestic and national seed varieties of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, wheat, and cotton were registered between 2020 and 2024, Terzi stated:
"Through our domestic seed initiatives in recent years, we are supporting agriculture. In our seed breeding efforts, we enhance plants' genetic traits to boost yield. We are producing seeds resistant to climate risks, which have become a significant threat. Additionally, we are developing seeds that resist diseases and pests, reducing crop losses. With these bred seeds, we achieve high-nutrient crops. Seed breeding is a crucial and strategic investment, although its economic return is delayed. All of these efforts are essential for ensuring access to safe food."
Drawing attention to the globally discussed issue of 'food sovereignty' in agriculture, Terzi continued:
"Food sovereignty relies on a country’s capacity to produce its own seeds. If a country can produce seeds independently, it has an advantage in terms of food sovereignty. Thus, seed breeding allows countries to preserve domestic seed diversity and develop their own seeds. As Hektaş Tohum, our priority is our nation’s independence in seeds. Seed breeding reduces dependency on foreign sources and supports agricultural policy independence. Hektaş carries out all its activities with this awareness and understanding."
Terzi explained that during the cotton field day held in Aydın this week, they introduced the Hektaş Tohum brand to farmers for the first time, saying, "In this gathering, we showcased our new domestic cotton seeds, named 'Volkan' and 'Selçuk Bey,' in the field before harvest. Our new local seeds stand out for their high yield potential and adaptability to all soil types and mechanical harvesting.
The Volkan cotton seed, developed following our collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, can be harvested earlier than standard types due to its medium-early variety. As a result, our cotton producers will have the advantage of bringing their products to market sooner and at higher prices. Furthermore, these seeds, which help reduce harvest-season congestion, will significantly lower production costs for farmers."
Discussing Hektaş’s approach to identifying the agricultural sector's needs and developing high-quality products to address them, Terzi also provided details on liquid plant nutrition products. He stated, "At our Ankara High Technology Center, one of Hektaş’s major R&D investments, we recently launched 17 liquid plant nutrition solutions under four brands. These products, which will help achieve maximum yield per unit area, have received great interest from farmers in field tests. Alongside our domestic market, we plan to introduce our liquid plant nutrition products to the world, especially to the Turkic Republics.”
OYAK General Manager Süleyman Savaş Erdem shared insights on Hektaş’s initiatives, stating:
“The focus in the agricultural sector worldwide and in Turkey is on 'food security.' Climate change, population growth, migration, geopolitical risks, pandemics, and natural disasters, alongside economic fluctuations, shape countries' agricultural policies. We now discuss food supply security through concepts such as protectionist trends in food trade and food nationalism.
One of the primary concerns for Turkey, ranked among the top 10 countries globally in agricultural productivity and production, is ensuring efficient production and sustainable supply security in this field. In this era of transformation, sustainable agricultural production is vital for countries.
Hektaş, a movement with vision and mission in agriculture, exemplifies OYAK’s consciousness and awareness in taking responsibility in strategic sectors shaping our country's future. With its national projects in R&D, new product development, and agricultural technologies, Hektaş has redefined the principles of sustainable and efficient growth in agricultural production through investments made over the last eight years. By integrating technology into agricultural production through innovative practices, Hektaş supports both producers and consumers, leading the way as a global company in 'Agriculture 5.0.'
Alongside its work in plant nutrition and animal health, Hektaş’s seed initiatives, as the initial link in the food chain, are an integral part of the goal for 'food security.' Achieving successful results in seed breeding—a crucial issue for food security and sovereignty—Hektaş is on track to becoming first a regional, then a global seed brand. Despite the challenging times in agriculture, Hektaş is creating value for our country and preparing Turkish agriculture for the future with science and technology.”
In the open fields across 370 decares, the facility grows 182 varieties of 20 different types of crops, including:
• Hard and soft stone fruits (peach, nectarine, olive, plum, apricot, apple, pear, quince, cherry, pomegranate, persimmon, fig)
Hard-shelled nut trees (walnut, almond)
• Field crops (wheat, sunflower, corn)
• Berry varieties (blueberry, blackberry)
• Vineyards (table, raisin, and aromatic grape varieties)
• Seasonal vegetables (tomato, pepper, cabbage, artichoke, pea)
• Smart soilless greenhouses (for tomato, pepper, cucumber, and seed production)
In line with the principles of modern agriculture, the facility conducts sustainable and innovative agricultural production. The crops grown are primarily high-value and export-potential plants common in Turkey. The fields employ smart farming techniques, cultural practices (pruning, training, plant protection, plant nutrition), and digital technologies.
At Hektaş F.A.R.M., the closed soilless agriculture system enables the year-round production of high-quality, flavorful, and eco-friendly products, unaffected by weather conditions and free from chemical pesticide residues. In soilless greenhouses, pollination is achieved naturally through pollinator Bombus bees.
The fully digitalized facility is focused on increasing agricultural efficiency, with seasonal variations in crop diversity. In addition to familiar varieties, thousands of different tomato and pepper varieties are produced, adapting to market needs and consumer preferences.
