Ülker makes first harvest of Aliağa Wheat for biscuit production

Turkish food manufacturer Ülker has made the first harvest of Aliağa Wheat, which was developed in collaboration with Konya Bahri Dağdaş International Agricultural Research Institute.

The project was launched by Ülker to ensure sustainable production and to secure its biscuit wheat supply for local and national markets.

Trials were initially made on the institute’s agricultural lands during 2007 and 2011. The wheat was then developed between 2011 and 2014 and was tested at different geographic locations.

The company added that its Aliağa Wheat successfully passed all tests by the Variety Registration and Seed Certification Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Ülker Ankara flour factory general manager Ali Çelik said: “The results of our first harvest clearly show that Aliağa Wheat will contribute greatly in meeting the demands of both the biscuit industry and industrialists producing breadstuff.

“This wheat is 17% to 20% better-yielding on wetlands and this yield increases to 40% to 60% 1,000m² of dryland.

“Another advantage of Aliağa Wheat’s higher yield on dryland compared to other wheat varieties is that it consumes less water. In the future, we will continue to support our farmers as much as we can to increase their income.”

A subsidiary of Yıldız Holding, Ülker has been engaged in the production of biscuits, cookies, crackers, and chocolates, which are exported internationally to 110 countries.

Recently, Yıldız Holding, which also owns Godiva chocolates and McVitie’s biscuits, reportedly stalled its plans to divest some of its assets and instead focused on increasing food production capacity to meet growing demands amid the coronavirus pandemic.