Istanbul: A mass production facility for a domestically developed nanotechnology product that can reduce water consumption in agriculture by up to 50% while increasing crop yields by as much as 25% has been inaugurated in Trkiye. The nanomaterial technology developed by ANT Systems, following 15 years of scientific research at Sabanci University's Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, has entered serial production at a newly established domestic facility in Istanbul with an annual capacity of 3,000 tons.
According to Anadolu Agency, the company's flagship product, NANOTERN, is a biodegradable nanomaterial designed to retain water in soil for longer periods and release it to plants in a controlled manner when needed. The technology can hold up to 1,800 times its own weight in water, reducing irrigation water use by up to 50% and increasing agricultural productivity by as much as 25%. It also improves the efficiency of fertilizers and other agricultural inputs, helping lower production costs. NANOTERN is actively used not only in Trkiye but also in the US, South America, Gulf countries, and Africa. The global patent portfolio of the technology is held in Trkiye.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Agriculture and Rural Development Support Institution (TKDK) President Ahmet Antalyali said the initiative represents a tangible example of Trkiye's goal of producing high technology in the agricultural sector. Antalyali emphasized that the project shows the transition from academia to industry can be successfully achieved, describing it as a development model in its own right.
Sabanci University Rector Yusuf Leblebici said that behind such ventures lies a strong vision and many years of dedicated effort, adding that Sakip Sabanci's support and the founding philosophy of the university made a meaningful contribution to the process. Leblebici also stressed that work on technology has continued determinedly throughout the various periods of crisis the world has gone through.
ANT Systems Vice Chairman and CEO Can Yurdakul warned that land can be lost not only through war, but also due to water scarcity, inefficiency, and unsustainable production models. 'Energy, water, and agriculture are now among the world's greatest issues,' Yurdakul said. 'The agricultural sector uses roughly 70% of the world's freshwater resources. One of the most critical questions for the future is therefore how to produce more sustainably with existing resources,' he added.
Speaking to Anadolu after the ceremony, Turkish Parliament's Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Affairs Committee Chairman Vahit Kirisci highlighted the increasing average age of workers in the agricultural sector, saying technology use in farming is critical to attracting younger generations. Kirisci said integrating technology at every level, including nanotechnology, would make the sector more appealing to young people. 'If we make a specific assessment here, we should note that we are not a water-rich country. In a country whose water stress is no longer in doubt, we must use water in the most effective and efficient way possible,' Kirisci said.
Guler Sabanci, chair of the founding board of trustees of Sabanci University and investor in ANT Systems, said water stress caused by the climate crisis is becoming increasingly visible both globally and in Trkiye. 'In facing the climate crisis, the major disasters we are already experiencing and will experience, and the water stress we are living through - the only thing we can rely on for the future is technology, science-based research, and the successful ventures that emerge from such research. This is also what the world trusts and expects,' Sabanci said.
ANT Systems Chairman and CTO Yusuf Ziya Menceloglu said the concept of sustainability began gaining prominence around 15 years ago, as rapid population growth accelerated resource consumption and carbon emissions, contributing to global warming and water scarcity. 'In agriculture, there is in fact a water crisis, a chemical input crisis - particularly the pesticide problem - and post-harvest storage problems,' he said. 'Today our food losses amount to almost 5% of Trkiye's gross national product. Food preservation and post-harvest protection are therefore very important,' he added.