Is There a Global Dependence on Israeli Seeds?
The data clearly shows that the world and Türkiye are not dependent on Israel for seeds, despite what is often claimed.
A woman holds seeds of vegetables in Konya, Turkey on May 25, 2021. An elder woman with her 2 daughters produce seedlings with heirlooms in Konya, Türkiye. Photo by Anadolu Images.
T
his question is always asked because of the mantra that “we depend on Israel for seeds,” a topic that is constantly on Türkiye’s agenda. More than five years ago, I wrote an article titled “Seeds and Seed Production in Türkiye” in which I briefly addressed this question. In fact, the article made headlines in a national newspaper. On September 16, 2025, after Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu attempted to create the perception that the world depends on Israel for technology, citing mobile phones and cherry tomatoes as examples at a press conference, the question resurfaced. The message was directed at the whole world and, therefore, at Türkiye. Let us examine seed dependency in the global and Turkish contexts.
In recent years, food security has become one of the most strategic issues in international agricultural trade following the pandemic. Rather than competitive agriculture and maximizing food exports, food supply security policy has come to the fore. The Ukraine-Russia War, agricultural droughts caused by climate change, shrinking agricultural areas, and food inflation have subsequently led countries to reevaluate the concept of “self-sufficiency” in agriculture. Seeds, one of the most fundamental inputs for agricultural activity, are at the center of this debate.
In recent years, one of the most frequently discussed clichés in Türkiye has resurfaced, particularly after Netanyahu’s statement: the claim that Türkiye is dependent on Israel for seeds. This idea has spread through social media and some press outlets. But what does the data say? Does Israel really meet a significant portion of the world’s and Türkiye’s seed needs? Or is this claim merely a matter of perception management? In this article, we will attempt to answer these questions based on international data, trade figures, and sectoral realities.
Seed as a strategic input in agriculture
Although soil-less and seed-less farming have become more common in some production areas in recent years, seeds remain one of the most important inputs in mainstream agriculture. Seeds are the starting point of agricultural activity and, therefore, of the food supply chain. A country should produce the productive seeds it needs (certified or hybrid), preserve its heirloom seeds, and promote their use. Currently, farmers have difficulty accessing licensed hybrid seeds due to their high cost. Every country must take measures to overcome these difficulties to ensure food security. Based on this information, it is clear that a country’s control over seeds is important not only economically, but also strategically.
As mentioned earlier, seeds fall into three main categories: local (heirloom), standard, and hybrid. Heirloom seeds are produced naturally and have adapted to local production conditions over the years. They have a medium yield, are considered much tastier, are inexpensive, and have a short shelf life. Standard seeds are pure and selected through natural pollination. They have medium or high yields, good flavor, a medium price, and increased durability, though not as high as hybrid seeds. Hybrid seeds are obtained through the controlled crossbreeding of two parent lines of the same species.
They have high yields, are resistant to certain diseases, are expensive, are attractive in appearance, have low flavor, and have a high commercial shelf life. Standard and hybrid seeds are also produced in certified forms. Certified seeds are listed in the registry, produced by authorized producers, inspected during production, cleaned at the processing facility, tested in laboratories, and carry a certification label. They are traceable and come with a quality guarantee. Their use is supported by the state, and they are officially sold on the market.
Who holds the power in the global seed market?
Let’s narrow this question down a bit: Is Israel really the dominant player in international seed production, as is commonly believed? The short answer is no. Data on the seed industry categorically refute this claim. According to recent data, the top four seed companies control more than 50 percent of the international seed trade, i.e., the global seed market. Bayer-Monsanto leads the pack with a 23 percent share. Second is the U.S. company Corteva (Dow + DuPont) with 17 percent. China (Syngenta + ChemChina) and France (Limagrain) are in third and fourth place, with 8% and 5%, respectively. These figures vary slightly among different sources.
Based on these data and the unlisted figures that follow, it is clear that no Israeli company is among the top 10 in the world. Israel is best known for its research and development (R&D) of vegetable seeds and drip irrigation technologies, yet it does not hold a significant share of the global seed market. An important official in the seed industry stated, “The cherry tomato that Netanyahu cited as an example may have been an R&D success for Israel at one point. However, the picture has changed today.” Regarding tomato seeds specifically, it’s worth noting that Türkiye produced around 14 tons of tomato seeds in 2024 and exported tomato seeds valued at $16,568,000.
What is the state of seed production in Türkiye?
According to published official data, Türkiye has undergone a significant transformation in seed production over the past 20 years. Let’s take a closer look at this transformation using data.
Certified seed production rose from 145,000 tons in 2002 to 1.35 million tons in 2023.
- In 2023, seed exports totaled $264 million, while imports amounted to $219 million. With these figures, Türkiye has become a net exporter in the seed sector.
- Around 900 domestic seed companies operate in Türkiye, and the proportion of domestic seed varieties in total seed usage is steadily increasing.
The data shows that contrary to the perception that Türkiye is dependent on foreign seeds, it is a country with a developing seed sector and rapidly increasing seed production.
What is the current situation regarding seed trade with Israel?
Due to the brutal genocide in Gaza, Türkiye has completely halted trade with Israel as of May 2, 2024. This naturally includes seed trade. According to officials, this halt has had no negative impact on Türkiye’s seed sector. Prior to this date, the situation was as follows.
According to 2022 data, Türkiye’s total exports to Israel amounted to $6.7 billion, while imports from Israel amounted to $2.3 billion. In other words, prior to 2024, Türkiye had a trade surplus three times the amount of its imports from Israel.
According to the Ministry of Trade, Israel accounted for approximately 5.0 percent of total seed imports between 2017 and 2021, decreasing to around 2.5 percent in 2022 and 2.0 percent in 2023. Nearly all of the seeds imported from Israel in previous years were hybrid vegetable seeds used in greenhouse agriculture, such as for tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and melons. Specifically, Türkiye’s total vegetable seed imports amounted to $113.9 million in 2023, while imports of vegetable seeds from Israel amounted to only $6.6 million. Therefore, Israel accounted for only 5.8% of total vegetable seed imports.
These figures are far from the “high dependency” level claimed on social media, even in previous years. Apart from vegetable seeds, there has been no dependency whatsoever on seeds for strategic products such as wheat, barley, maize, cotton, and rice.
The real problems and foresights for Türkiye’s seed sector
Although the Turkish seed sector has made significant progress over the last 25 years, it still faces structural challenges. It is helpful to list the current issues in the sector and the suggested solutions.
Türkiye still depends heavily on imports for certain vegetable seeds, particularly hybrid seeds, and foreign companies dominate the corn, sunflower, and vegetable seed markets. The R&D capacities of domestic seed companies are limited, resulting in weak competitiveness.
Compared to leading countries in seed production, it is clear that R&D investments in Türkiye are insufficient. Most domestic companies are unable to allocate sufficient resources to R&D activities. In this context, cooperation between universities, research institutes, and the private sector is weak. This situation stems from the fact that breeding programs require long-term investments, which short-term, profit-oriented companies tend to avoid.
Despite the increase in the use of certified seeds due to significant support, some producers still use seeds obtained through traditional methods. The sale of uncertified or unlabeled seeds remains widespread in the market. This situation has the potential to cause significant damage to producers.
Some circles criticize the current Seed Law No. 5553 on the grounds that it protects large companies. The right of farmers to produce and store seeds for their own use is sometimes debated, particularly with regard to heirloom seeds. Conversely, some argue that the legal infrastructure and support for protecting and disseminating heirloom seeds are inadequate. While these criticisms may not be entirely accurate, it would be useful to carefully evaluate them with a view to improvement.
Certain level of dependency risk on the hybrid seed system and global corporations
Many local varieties unique to Anatolia, or heirloom seeds, are overshadowed by commercialized varieties and are therefore at risk of extinction. In response to these developments, local seed banks and gene resource centers must become more effective, and farmers must be supported in preserving these seeds.
The fact that a handful of large corporations control the international seed market leaves countries such as Türkiye vulnerable to dependency. The widespread presence of foreign companies at many stages, from seed production to the point of sale, can hinder the growth of domestic companies and the sector as a whole.
Farmers are not sufficiently informed about the importance of quality seeds, the certification process, support for using quality seeds, their productivity, and disease resistance. Without widespread education, farmers do not select the correct seeds, resulting in yield losses and reduced agricultural productivity and total production.
Climate change is disrupting traditional agricultural production schedules and crop patterns. New seed varieties that can withstand these changes, particularly drought, need to be developed. However, insufficient work has been done in this area at all levels in Türkiye, and even if it has, it has not been put into practice.
Conclusion
The data clearly shows that the world and Türkiye are not dependent on Israel for seeds, despite what is often claimed. However, there is a certain level of dependency risk on the hybrid seed system and global corporations. The issue is one of seed sovereignty. A country that cannot produce its own seeds and lacks sovereignty over them cannot ensure food supply security. Therefore, to advance the seed sector and enable Türkiye to become a more sovereign country in seed production, the correct and disciplined implementation of public policies, private sector strategies, and programs to raise awareness and guide farmers is necessary.
