The Association of Milling and Sector Machinery Manufacturers (DESMÜD) is realising an
important project that will make Türkiye a global leader in the field of grain and food
technologies. This project, announced under the name of Grain and Grain Products Innovation
Centre, will be established in Sincan district of Ankara and will be the pioneer of a major
transformation in the sector. The centre aims to be a facility that will lead the sector not only in
Türkiye but also in the world with its technological infrastructure and the training and R&D
opportunities it offers. According to the details announced by DESMÜD President Zeki
Demirtaşoğlu, the foundation of the centre is planned to be laid in 2025 and completed within
three years. Within the framework of a protocol signed with Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, a
4.5 acre land was allocated to DESMÜD for 25 years for the establishment of the centre.
The total cost of the project is estimated to be approximately 5 million dollars. This investment aims to create a training, R&D and testing centre that brings advanced technology and innovative solutions to the sector. The centre will be equipped with new generation flour, bread, pasta, biscuit and chocolate production lines. In addition, it is designed to accommodate many functional areas such as modern R&D and quality control laboratories, conference and seminar halls, administrative offices, accommodation areas, hotel and warehouse sections. This comprehensive approach will help Türkiye increase its export targets while training the qualified labour force needed by the sector.
The project aims to make a major contribution to the sector in training qualified labour force. Each year, at least 500 people will receive training at international standards in both Turkish and English by professors and associate professors who are experts in their fields. Training programmes will include theoretical knowledge as well as practical work, and participants will have the opportunity to get to know the latest technologies in the sector closely. As Zeki Demirtaşoğlu emphasised, this initiative aims to raise the level of expertise needed in the sector and increase quality standards in production. Currently, the sector employs 300thousand people, but the fact that 65 per cent of the employees are apprentices clearly reveals the qualified workforce deficit. The centre will close this gap and increase Türkiye’s competitiveness in world markets.
R&D activities will be one of the most important focal points of the centre. Comprehensive
research will be carried out to develop innovative solutions in the sector and ensure the
integration of technological developments into production. Quality control laboratories will
raise the standards in production processes to the highest level. The conferences and seminars
to be held at the centre will pave the way for sector professionals to increase their knowledge
and establish new collaborations. In this context, Türkiye’s leadership position in the grain
machinery sector will be further consolidated.
This project, led by DESMÜD, also aims to increase international cooperation. The centre will host trainees from Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Turkic Republics. This will allow Türkiye to share its knowledge and experience in grain processing technologies across the world. In addition, cultural and commercial interactions with sector representatives from different countries will be strengthened. Thus, Türkiye’s export capacity will increase and international co-operation opportunities in the sector will expand.
Zeki Demirtaşoğlu also gave information about Türkiye’s export targets within the scope of theproject. It is aimed to increase the sector’s exports from 3.7 billion dollars to 8 billion dollars inthe first 10 years after the centre becomes operational. This growth will not only increase theeconomic potential of the sector, but will also make Türkiye a leading country in the export ofgrain machinery. To achieve this success, the Centre plans to create added value in the sectorby offering innovative solutions and high standard training programmes.
The contributions of the Grain and Grain Products Innovation Centre to the sector will not be limited to the economic dimension. With its technology-oriented infrastructure, it will modernise production processes in the sector and enable domestic producers to compete at world standards. It will also assume sector leadership in the development of sustainable production models, the use of environmentally friendly technologies and energy efficiency.
This visionary project will enable Türkiye to gain a strong position in the international arena in the field of grain and food technologies. The Centre will offer a great opportunity for all stakeholders in the sector and will further reinforce Türkiye’s leadership role in grain machinery exports. This innovation centre, implemented by DESMÜD, has been designed as a facility that will meet not only today’s needs but also those of the future. This project, which is expected to make significant contributions to the economic growth and sectoral development of the country, marks the beginning of a new era in grain and food technologies.
