100% Ecological Farmers Markets
14th December 2015
Tag list
Location / Country / Region
İstanbul, İzmir, Kayseri- Turkey
Time frame
Started during the 1990s and it is still running.
Short description
Buğday Association aims to create sustainable models that support wholesome living and producing.
Target audiences
small farmers
Relevant links, websites, etc.
- bugday.org,
- http://ekolojikpazar.org/
BACKGROUND
Links with national / regional priorities
The consumers had access to organic food with less cost (directly from the producer). They also benefited from the ecologically-minded workshops that are regularly held. Organic farming is better for the health of the people, as well as the soil, air and the water.
Political and economic dimensions
Consumers were given the opportunity to buy directly from the farmers. They were able to put a face to the farmer who produced their food. That enables them to make a connection between their lives and the food that sustains their life. Overall, it changes the way they look at the effects of their actions on the environment.
Social dimensions
The system supported 250+ organic farmers who produce fresh fruits and vegetables. The number is much more if packaged/processed (olive oil, rice etc) is taken into account. Supporting ecological farming and creating awareness for the way that our food is produced.
1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The Buğday movement, seeds of which were sprinkled at the Buğday’s (Wheat) Vegetarian Cafe, the first all-organic store – restaurant & eco-cultural centre in Bodrum at the beginning of 1990’s, has been operating officially since 2002 under the name of Buğday Association for Supporting Ecological Living. Some Milestones of Buğday Movement:
- 1990, the first market and consumption research for wholesome food began in Bodrum, Turkey
- 1991, a health food store opened as the base and meeting point for the movement in Bodrum
- 1992, the store transformed into a restaurant and an education center which served as a national and international meeting point and base for the next 8 years
- 1998, the first bi-monthly Buğday Ecological Living Magazine was published and distributed around the country
- 1999, the first congress on “Healthy domestic organic market” organized
- 2000, different models for marketing organic products were established
- 2002, Buğday Association was legally established as the umbrella organization for the movement
- 2003, TaTuTa organic farm holidays and volunteers program was established
- 2005, the first community supported organic city garden project was executed
- 2006, the first 100% Ecological Farmers’ Market was established in İstanbul, Turkey
- 2007, the 3.5 years project for the preparation of Agri-Environment in Turkey started
- 2008, Turkey’s seed network was founded
- 2009, Camtepe rural research and education center was succesfully completed and opened in 2010.
- 2010, the first international permanent representation was established in Brussels
2. ANALYSIS
Innovativeness
Enabling the small farmer to bring organic products to consumers by setting up the 100% ecological farmers’ markets. This was the first ecological farmers’ market in Turkey.
Sustainability
Specialized in Mediterranean and Aegean traditional architecture, Buğday has initiated and executed several ecological building and renovation projects. In Cumhuriyetköy, Buğday has built the first straw-bale dwelling in İstanbul. The coffee shop at the Kartal 100% Ecological Farmers’ Market has been also recently built with straw-bale, with the expertise of Buğday.
Key success factors
Geographical and cultural diversity in Turkey reflects on the buildings, creating in turn a rich diversity in terms of both architecture and the building materials.
Contributions to LLL Policy
The LLL program was put together by UNEP – UNICEF in order to enable adults to make more informed and environmentally conscious consumption decisions.
3. Lessons Learnt
Regarding the possibilities of having practices in LLL which evolve and become more innovative
Provides supplementary income, as well as support to the Turkish smallholder farmers suffering from the negative effects of extensive tourism, unsustainable agricultural models and depletion of natural resources. Also it reconnects city dwellers to the source of their food, to the soil and the nature