TürkTraktör puts the spotlight on the future of water in agriculture at COP31
TürkTraktör highlighted the importance of technology, financing and public-private cooperation for sustainable water management in agriculture at its panel titled “Rethinking Water Resilience: Technology, Investment and Policy for Climate-Resilient Agriculture,” held as part of COP31 in Antalya, where Koç Holding serves as a Global Partner.TürkTraktör Company Leader Matthieu Séjourné stated that the Smart Irrigation Management Kit can deliver water savings of up to 45% under suitable conditions. He also emphasized that the Tarlam Cepte app aims to support farmers in their daily decisions, contributing to efficiency and time savings.
TürkTraktör, one of Türkiye’s long-established automotive manufacturers, hosted a key panel addressing the impacts of climate change on agriculture and water resources as part of the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP31 in Antalya. Moderated by Uğur Zeydanlı, Chair of the Board of the Nature Conservation Centre, the panel, titled “Rethinking Water Resilience: Technology, Investment and Policy for Climate-Resilient Agriculture,” explored the efficient use of water resources, the wider adoption of smart agricultural technologies, farmers’ access to financing and sustainable agricultural policies.
The panel highlighted the increasingly evident impacts of climate change on agricultural production, emphasizing that technological solutions alone are not enough to protect water resources. Participants also stressed the need to develop financing models and supportive policies that make these technologies more accessible to farmers.
“We turn technology into tangible benefits in farmers’ daily lives”
TürkTraktör Company Leader Matthieu Séjourné stated that agriculture is directly affected by climate change and that the efficient use of water resources is critical to the future of agricultural production.
Noting that TürkTraktör has been operating in agricultural mechanization for more than 70 years, Séjourné said: “Protecting water resources and using them efficiently are among our foremost priorities for the future of agriculture. At TürkTraktör, we develop technology to make farmers’ daily work easier and help them use resources more efficiently. The adoption of smart irrigation techniques by our farmers is of critical importance for the future of water resources. Considering that 80% of farmers in Türkiye own less than 10 hectares of land, we also need to take investment costs into account when addressing access to technology. Alternative solutions, particularly those that facilitate access to financing for small-scale farmers, can make a significant contribution to the wider adoption of these technologies.” Séjourné highlighted the importance of structuring payment terms around agricultural production and harvest cycles to help small-scale farmers afford investments in technology.
Séjourné stated that TürkTraktör’s Smart Irrigation Management Kit can deliver water savings of up to 45% under suitable conditions. “Our Tarlam Cepte app, used by more than 200,000 people, combines satellite data, weather forecasts and AI-powered analyses to provide farmers with smart irrigation recommendations. Our aim is to bring the opportunities offered by technology to more farmers and contribute to agricultural production that is more resilient to climate change,” he said.
Séjourné also emphasized the importance of training and practical demonstrations so that farmers can see the benefits of new technologies firsthand, adding that this transformation can be accelerated through an ecosystem in which the public and private sectors work together.
Basin-Based Planning and Digital Technologies Come to the Fore in Water Management
Speaking at the panel, Neşat Onur Şanlı, Deputy Director General of Water Management at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, noted that the impacts of climate change on water resources are being felt increasingly, particularly in the Mediterranean basin. Şanlı stated that the Directorate General of Water Management bases its approach on “water-centred planning” and basin-scale planning. He explained that river basin management plans, flood and drought management plans, and sectoral water allocation plans are prepared through an integrated approach within the framework of the National Water Plan. Şanlı added that water management plans are developed with the participation of all stakeholders and that securing climate finance and prioritising investments are decisive for implementation.
Highlighting the importance of digital technologies and data management in protecting water resources, Şanlı said: “We use technology to track water at every stage, from its source to the point of use. Our goal is to establish a system that monitors the quantity and quality of water resources and ensures that every drop is used efficiently. In this context, we are strengthening our water-centred planning approach through training and support programmes for farmers.”
He stated that, under the Water Efficiency Campaign launched by the Ministry in 2023, farmers receive training and the transition to modern irrigation is encouraged through grant support. He added that the Ministry aims to increase agricultural irrigation efficiency to 60% by 2030 and 65% by 2050, and that good practices are recognised with the Blue Water Efficiency Certificate.
Şanlı also discussed the Ministry’s awareness-raising efforts in the field, noting that training programmes reached 100,000 farmers in 2025 and helped promote a culture of water efficiency.
“Climate change is an issue of today, not the future”
CNH Head of Commercial Business Unit North West Cluster & Head of Product Management EMEA Sean Lennon discussed agricultural production in Europe and the impacts of climate change, drawing attention to the adverse effects of rising temperatures and drought on agricultural productivity.
Emphasizing that climate change is no longer merely a future risk, Lennon said: “Climate change is now an issue of today. To overcome the challenges we face in agricultural production, we need to bring together technology, the right equipment solutions and strong partnerships. While precision farming practices and data-driven solutions improve resource use, expanding training that helps farmers adopt these technologies is also essential.”
Lennon highlighted the critical role of practical training and partnerships with public institutions in helping farmers adapt to new technologies, underlining the need to accelerate agricultural transformation.
Farmers’ access to financing is a key prerequisite for transformation
Financing climate-resilient agricultural practices was another key topic on the panel’s agenda. Wagner Almeida, IFC (International Finance Corporation) Director for Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Services in the Middle East and Central Asia, emphasized the need to improve economic conditions so that farmers can invest in new technologies.
Highlighting farmers’ economically vulnerable position within the agricultural value chain, Almeida said: “Having the technology alone is not enough. The real challenge is ensuring that farmers can afford to access it. Globally, agriculture must become more productive and resilient within increasingly constrained natural resources. Precision and micro-irrigation, efficient solar-powered pumps and digital tools can help, but they come at a cost. Investments take a long time to pay off, and farmers should not carry climate, financing and market risks alone. Farmers need long-term, affordable financing, supported by guarantees and blended finance. We cannot scale this transformation unless risks are allocated to the parties best able to manage them.”
Almeida noted that farmers should not be expected to repay long-term investments with short-term working-capital finance, stressing that financing terms must be aligned with the investment's payback period and cash-flow profile.
Panel participants agreed that technology providers, public institutions, financial institutions and farmers must work together to improve water efficiency in agriculture. They emphasized that building a climate-resilient agricultural production model requires an integrated approach that combines the wider adoption of smart irrigation systems, easier access to technology and financing for farmers, and sustainable water policies.
