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Yudum Egemden and Tohum Association’s initiative, The Grafting of Wild Olive Trees to Integrate Them into the Economy and Support Farmers Project, has entered its second year, bringing farmers together in Kuşadası’s Kirazlı Village. During the gathering, thousands of grafted wild olive trees were allocated to farmers. The project is supported by the Regional Forestry Directorates of İzmir, Muğla, and Balıkesir, along with technical contributions from the İzmir Olive Research Institute.

The project, launched by Yudum Egemden and Tohum Association to integrate wild olive trees known as Delice into the economy and provide them for farmers' use, is continuing this year in Aydın. As part of the initiative, grafted trees were distributed to farmers in Kirazlı Village, Kuşadası, under the leadership of Tohum Association’s Chairman Musa Kaya and Savola Gıda Turkey’s General Manager Houmer Balazadeh.

Initially launched in Manisa last year, the project is carried out with the support of the Regional Forestry Directorates of İzmir, Muğla, and Balıkesir, as well as technical guidance from the İzmir Olive Research Institute. Following its first-year success in Manisa, the project has expanded to Kuşadası’s Kirazlı Village, where thousands of wild olive trees have been grafted and made available to farmers. Yudum Egemden and Tohum Association plan to continue expanding the project to other olive-growing regions in Turkey in the coming years.

Transforming Wild Olive Trees into a Productive Resource

Wild olive trees, known as Delice or oleaster, grow naturally in the wild. When grafted and cultivated, they are transformed into productive olive trees. It is estimated that integrating the existing wild olive trees in Turkey into the economy through grafting could generate at least $60 million in economic benefits for farmers and the country.

During the first year of the project, grafting operations were carried out in the villages of Davutlar, Kaleköy, Sarma, and Sarıalan in Manisa. In its second year, the project expanded to Kirazlı Village in Kuşadası. The grafted trees were allocated to farmers through Agricultural Development Cooperatives established in the participating villages, ensuring both economic contribution and direct support for local farmers.

Building a Farmer Network and Providing Training

As part of the project, Tohum Association has established a farmer network in the participating villages. Through this network, farmers receive regular updates on agricultural activities, and seasonal agricultural knowledge is shared with them.

The farmers who received the grafted wild olive trees were also provided with training on tree cultivation, disease management, and harvesting techniques. These training sessions were conducted face-to-face by agricultural experts in the villages.

Tohum Association Chairman Musa Kaya: "We Always Support Nature, Agriculture, and Farmers"

Tohum Association’s Chairman Musa Kaya emphasized their commitment to supporting nature, agriculture, and farmers:

"The Domestic Sunflower Seed Support Social Responsibility Project, which we launched in collaboration with Savola Gıda Turkey, was an industry-first initiative. Now in its third year, our efforts in developing domestic seeds are beginning to bear fruit.

Additionally, last year, with the support of Savola Gıda Turkey, we initiated the Grafting of Wild Olive Trees to Integrate Them into the Economy and Support Farmers Project. This year, we are providing support to hundreds of farmers in Kuşadası, Aydın, by grafting thousands of olive trees. We are pleased to ensure the sustainability of this project with the help of the Regional Forestry Directorates of İzmir, Muğla, and Balıkesir, as well as the İzmir Olive Research Institute.

Through this initiative, we are also offering training programs for farmers. It is invaluable for us to have Savola Gıda Turkey, a leader in the industry, supporting our projects that contribute to both the country’s economy and its farmers.”

Savola Gıda Turkey General Manager Houmer Balazadeh: "Our Goal Is to Contribute to Increasing Domestic Production"

During the farmer gathering, Savola Gıda Turkey’s General Manager Houmer Balazadeh expressed his vision for supporting local agriculture:

"At Savola Gıda Turkey, we have half a century of knowledge and experience in olive oil production. Our Yudum brand leads the sector in every aspect. With this vision, we are committed to continuously implementing projects that support local production and farmers.

This initiative clearly demonstrates the tangible benefits and results we can achieve when producers, farmers, the public sector, and civil society organizations collaborate. As the most beloved brand in the industry, we will continue to develop projects that support local production and farmers while promoting the quality of Turkish olive oil worldwide."