Food is a topic that can be instantly politicized!

Prof. Deniz Ülke Kaynak, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Üsküdar University, delivered a speech titled "Risks and Opportunities in Food Supply in the Century of Crises" at the "4th International Food Chemistry Congress."

Emphasizing that the global climate crisis could not only cause food shocks but also trigger international migrations, lead to water crises, and result in massive population movements, Prof. Kaynak stated, "Türkiye is among the top land areas that will be most affected by the climate crisis."

Prof. Deniz Ülke Kaynak highlighted that another impact of the climate crisis is the emergence of new trade routes, saying, "The North Sea has started to gain a significant advantage in terms of logistics." Prof. Kaynak further stated: "It is a strategic security choice for Türkiye to protect itself in a unique way, to become a self-sufficient country that ensures its own food security, just like in our childhood."

The "4th International Food Chemistry Congress," organized this year with the theme of "Sustainability in Food Production," was held at the Juju Premier Palace Hotel in Antalya/Kemer from May 8 to 11, 2025, in cooperation with Üsküdar University, Yıldız Technical University, and the Chemists Association, and with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Prof. Deniz Ülke Kaynak, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Üsküdar University, delivered the keynote speech titled "Risks and Opportunities in Food Supply in the Century of Crises" in a special session held as part of the congress.

Starting her speech with the words, "Whatever we talk about, we bring the topic back to our field, the field of politics," Prof. Kaynak emphasized that politics is connected to everything, and that world politics has become a crucial factor worth following for everyone.

The 21st Century: A "Century of Crises"

Prof. Kaynak described the 21st century as a "century of crises," recalling that as the 21st century began, there was concern about the potential collapse of computer systems known as the "Y2K syndrome," which did not materialize. However, the optimistic picture drawn at the United Nations summit was quickly shattered by the 9/11 attacks.

She noted that this attack led to a significant shift in global security perceptions, with states directing their resources towards military spending. Defense expenditures increased from 750 billion dollars to 2.5 trillion dollars, oil prices reached record levels, and an atmosphere of fear emerged. At the same time, the Islamic world was positioned as the "other," fulfilling a need for an enemy. According to Prof. Kaynak, the second major crisis was the 2008-2009 economic crisis, in which the state re-entered the system as an economic actor, with CEOs of companies becoming appointable by states. The third crisis was the health crisis that emerged as the pandemic, which strengthened the state's biopolitical power over individuals, as practices such as mandatory vaccination and travel restrictions brought individual lives under control.

Spending on mental illnesses reached 5 trillion dollars as of 2024

Prof. Kaynak stated that these three global crises have shaped the world of the 21st century by creating an environment of fear, anxiety, and excessive securitization. She emphasized that, in addition to defense spending, the money spent on mental illnesses reached 5 trillion dollars as of 2024 and is expected to rise to 16 trillion dollars by 2030.

Prof. Kaynak commented, "This shows that there are some projects related to us, that something will be done to us. Will our fears increase, or will our anxieties rise? We will see in the coming periods."

A global cyberattack could have serious consequences

Noting that the first 25 years of the 21st century have seen three major global crises, Prof. Kaynak stated that it is unclear where the fourth crisis will come from, but cyberspace could be a potential source.

She emphasized that a global cyberattack targeting digital assets linked to cryptocurrency markets and cloud systems could have serious consequences, potentially paralyzing every stage of the food sector, from agricultural production to logistics, manufacturing, and retail. Reminding that even short power outages in Spain and Portugal caused trillions of dollars in losses, Prof. Kaynak highlighted that the enormous value in cryptocurrency markets is also in an insecure environment against cyberattacks.

Social media: another potential crisis area

Prof. Kaynak identified another potential crisis area as the anxiety, concerns, and mass mobilizations that could be triggered in social media environments.
Recalling that the Arab Spring was a "Twitter revolution," she emphasized that platforms like X can be used for political purposes, and masses can be manipulated with bot accounts and fake news.

Politicization of food and trade sanctions

Highlighting the vital importance of food and how it can be instantly politicized, Prof. Kaynak noted that food products can be used as a tool of sanction when relations between countries deteriorate. "For example, they say, 'I won't buy your tomatoes.' You have a problem with Russia, and they say, 'I won't buy them,' perhaps making up something like 'they contained pesticides.' Prof. Kaynak explained that the main reason behind such situations is often not a real health risk but a desire to exert political pressure. She pointed out that harmful products may be imported from a country that is supported, while products from a country that is opposed are not purchased, causing economic harm.

Another major crisis area: climate crisis

Drawing attention to another significant crisis area, the climate crisis, Prof. Kaynak reminded that major food crises in history were linked to climatic changes. She noted that the cooling period in Europe between 1600-1750 led to major famines.

Today, problems such as flooding in certain regions, the inability to grow certain crops due to climate change, soil contamination, pollution, and drought could lead to severe food crises.

Prof. Kaynak emphasized that the global climate crisis could not only cause food shocks but also trigger international migrations, lead to water crises, and result in massive population movements. "Türkiye is among the top land areas that will be most affected by the climate crisis," she added.

Greenland: rich in natural resources beneath

Discussing another impact of the climate crisis, Prof. Kaynak pointed out the emergence of new trade routes and mentioned that the world's eyes are on the Arctic region:

"Greenland is a vast region, approximately 2.5 times the size of Türkiye. Why is it so important? Because the world's largest energy reserves are now located in these areas. Greenland is rich in significant natural resources beneath its surface. Moreover, due to the climate crisis, glaciers are rapidly melting, revealing pristine, fertile lands suitable for agriculture, untouched by chemicals until now. For instance, Siberia has now become arable. The North Sea has also begun to gain a significant logistical advantage. This is because the polar region of the world is inherently a narrow area, making travel and transportation from the north much shorter and more economical. Currently, all major trade routes we use are in the south and spread over longer distances. However, as we move north, these distances shorten, revealing a vast logistical capacity. The climate crisis appears to be creating a major transformation, not only with its environmental impacts but also in terms of energy resources and global trade routes."

A significant portion of today's conflicts are related to the reshaping of trade corridors

Prof. Kaynak emphasized that another critical issue regarding food is trade corridors and the competition among them. She stated that a significant portion of today's conflicts is closely related to the reshaping of trade corridors.

Prof. Kaynak noted that the newly emerging trade corridors aim to open new areas in response to embargoes. She highlighted that the AYMEK (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor) agreement, signed in 2023, is a game-changing factor. This corridor will extend from Mumbai, passing through Dubai and crossing the Arabian Peninsula, to Haifa Port in Israel and then to Piraeus. She also mentioned that Cyprus is located along this route, which presents risks for Türkiye.

Beyond the AYMEK corridor, Prof. Kaynak pointed out another critical route known as the southern corridor, which transports commercial goods from China and India through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, passing near Gaza. She emphasized the geopolitical developments in the region and their impact on food supply.

Gaza region is set to become an international port

Prof. Kaynak emphasized that the security of global food supply, geopolitical developments in today's world, and competition over trade corridors are at the forefront of international concerns. She stated that the underlying reason for the Gaza issue becoming an international problem is the desire to transform the region into an international port.

Prof. Kaynak explained that Donald Trump views the world like a real estate market and sees Gaza as "a very beautiful piece of property." He cited the United States' purchases of Alaska and Louisiana as examples, noting that the West perceives land as private property with monetary value.

She further mentioned that Gaza is not being left to Israel, but efforts are being made to turn it into an open port under international administration. She explained that there is an attempt to create a different structure by reducing the population in the area. "The main issue is opening a trade corridor. No one is really interested in people," she said.

Addressing the possibility of the PKK terrorist organization laying down arms, Prof. Kaynak suggested that this could be related to the search for a new order in the Middle East. Referring to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's statement, "This is a new order operation," following the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Prof. Kaynak stated that the region is entering a period where the role of non-state actors is diminishing, and state-to-state relations are becoming more prominent.

Türkiye's zangezur corridor initiative

Prof. Kaynak explained that Türkiye is also trying to implement its "Middle Corridor" strategy by opening the Zangezur Corridor. The aim is to deliver trade from Azerbaijan and the Turkic Republics to Europe through Türkiye.

She noted that relations between Azerbaijan and Israel put Türkiye in a delicate balancing act regarding the Gaza issue.

The 2022 grain corridor agreement

Prof. Kaynak emphasized that all trade corridors are vital for food security and the safety of food supply. She highlighted that the Black Sea is one of the world’s most important grain reserves and that Türkiye serves as a transit point for grain from this region. She further explained that the Grain Corridor Agreement signed in 2022 was of great importance globally and brought international recognition to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Global imbalances and potential risks in food supply

Prof. Kaynak stated that the United States is one of the world's major grain suppliers, capable of producing and selling with ease. In contrast, African countries have untapped resources. Nations like Sudan could be among the most fertile grain belts but cannot realize this potential due to conflicts over resource sharing.

Drawing attention to the concept of "agroterrorism" as a significant risk for food security, Prof. Kaynak warned that terrorist attacks targeting agricultural areas are possible.

344 million people are living under the threat of hunger worldwide

Emphasizing that preventing people’s access to food is an attack on their most basic needs, which form the foundation of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, Prof. Kaynak noted that this situation also eliminates the need for security, cutting off all vital aspects of being human.

"344 million people worldwide are living under the threat of hunger, nearly 2 million are on the verge of starvation, with a significant portion in Gaza. Even in Türkiye, malnutrition is a serious problem. About 60% of children in public schools do not have breakfast, and nearly 10% go to bed without dinner. Deep poverty has become a reality in Türkiye as well. People are being disciplined with hunger. That is why it is inevitable to prioritize the issue of food."

Türkiye's strategic choice to protect itself differently

Touching on the balance of power in international relations, Prof. Kaynak said,
"You cannot trust the American eagle. You cannot dance with the Russian bear, but if you get too close to the Chinese dragon, you will get burned." She emphasized that Türkiye must pursue a cautious balance policy.

Prof. Kaynak concluded by stating, “It is a strategic security choice for Türkiye to protect itself in a unique way, to become a self-sufficient country that ensures its own food security, just like in our childhood."

 

 

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)