The future of agriculture production
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BST Agri is at the forefront of sustainable agriculture, with the use of geothermal energy for greenhouse farming, with a commitment to environmental stewardship, innovation, and exceptional year-round, environmentally responsible high-yield crops.
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The team is composed of seasoned farmers, academic researchers, tech savvy engineers, environmentalist, nested on a management excellence from the corporate world.
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The geographically location of BST Agri is a the crossroads of international trade routes, with a climate that suits geothermal greenhouse farming. The region is know for its well trained farmers.
Current Project Stage
The tender has ben awarded to Birleş ik Seracılık
ve Ticaret Üretim A.Ş ., and first hurdle conditions
is to re-activate the 2.000 m2 r&d greenhouse, as
well as to mark and secure the placement of the
first greenhouse within 90 days after the tender
award.
Official land typographic measurement has
begun, application for first grand has been filed,
negotiations with masterplan engineers has
begun, building and hireling for the advisory
board has begun, shortlisting of green house buildings has begun
Introduction
of the project
Form SPV &
onboard key
people
Tender
(1) & (2)
Initial Investments & Test Labs
Raise
Capital
Construction Start
Production Start
2022 Q1
2022 Q4
2023 Q3
2023 Q3
2024 Q1
2024 Q2
2025 Q4
Form SPV &
onboard key
people
Form SPV &
onboard key
people
Form SPV &
onboard key
people
2023 Q3
20224 Q1
2022 Q2
Technology
Agriculture is increasingly becoming more technologically advanced. Precision agriculture, and data analytics, will continue to grow. These technologies enable farmers to optimize resource usage, increase yields, and reduce environmental impact.
Automation and Robotics
The use of robots and autonomous machinery in agriculture is on the rise. These machines can perform tasks like planting, harvesting, and weeding with greater precision and efficiency than human labor.
Vertical Farming and Controlled Environment Agriculture
Urbanization and limited arable land are driving the growth of vertical farming and controlled environment agriculture. These methods allow crops to be grown indoors or in vertical stacks, reducing the need for large land areas and providing a more controlled environment for year-round production.
Sustainabilty
Sustainability will be a central focus in agriculture. Practices that conserve resources, reduce waste, and promote soil health will become increasingly important. This includes organic farming, no-till farming, and the use of cover crops.
Climate Resiliency
Climate change presents significant challenges to agriculture, including extreme weather events and changing growing conditions. Future agriculture will need to adapt with climate-resilient crops, water management strategies, and disaster preparedness.
Data-Driven Decisions
Farmers will rely more on data analytics and predictive modeling to make informed decisions about crop management, resource allocation, and risk mitigation
Water Conservation
Efficient water management and irrigation techniques will be crucial as water resources become scarcer. Drip irrigation, precision irrigation, and water recycling will be key practices.
Consumer Preferences
Consumer demand for sustainable, ethically produced, and traceable food will influence agricultural practices and production methods
Project Partners
Background
Landscape
In Europe, there has been a significant surge in input costs for producers, particularly from the energy sector. This increase, driven by escalating natural gas prices for heating, high labor expenses, and challenging climatic conditions has posed obstacles for end-users in accessing products.
To illustrate this further: In the Netherlands, renowned for its substantial greenhouse production, the Westland region, a prominent greenhouse cluster, relies entirely on natural gas for heating and electricity for lighting due to limited sunlight. Furthermore, the hourly minimum wage for an agricultural worker with five years of experience, excluding insurance and social premiums, surged from 11 euros in 2021 to 24 euros. The escalation in natural gas prices, soaring up to four to six times their previous levels, and the preference given to residential and industrial heating have projected the unit price of tomatoes intended for Rotterdam by the European Commission at approximately 2.7 to 3.1 euros during the winter season. By contrast, the current production cost of 1 kilogram of greenhouse tomatoes in Turkey ranges between 9 to 13 Turkish Lira (approximately 0,32 to 0.45 Euro).
When comparing these price disparities, it becomes evident that there is a significant competitive edge with products from Türkiye. BST Agri is in a position to cultivate sustainable competitive advantages instead of relying solely on short-term benefits . The global rise in energy priced , living expenses, deteriorating climate conditions, as well as political and economic turmoil can indeed be transformed into significant advantages with effective process management. Numerous factors, including year-round high-standard greenhouse production utilizing geothermal heating, cost-effective labor, production strategies tailored to climatic conditions, and the expansive size of agricultural production areas, position us to meet the world's agricultural needs, which are currently under duress. By employing sound political and bureaucratic management, similar to our response to previous grain crises, BST Agri have the potential to assert market dominance and ensure enduring competitiveness.
The decline in European tomato production, driven by rising production expenses, creates opportunities for non-European suppliers in key markets like Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, particularly during the European winter season. New entrants must effectively compete with producers from Spain and Morocco. Popular varieties include sweet, firm-textured tomatoes, dark-colored ribbed tomatoes, cocktail tomatoes, plum cherry, and traditional sweet varieties. Despite being the world's third-largest tomato producer, Europe still faces higher domestic demand than production.
Over the past five years, total imports have remained stable at 3.2 million tonnes in 2022, with an annual import value increase of 7% to €5.6 billion. The rise in import prices is due to increased energy costs following the Ukraine war. The European fresh tomato market is expected to grow annually by 1-3% over the next five years, driven by healthy living trends. However, the trade structure may change, with increased imports from developing countries. For instance, European tomato production in 2022 was 10% lower than in 2021, while imports from developing countries increased by 77,000 tonnes (7%).
Opportunities for non-European suppliers lie in supplying Europe during the off-season, particularly during winter months. The EU applies seasonal tariffs and tariff quotas to protect domestic production, with lower duties typically applied from October to May. Suppliers entering the European market with sustainably produced tomatoes and attractive cultivars, along with natural ripening, can meet increasing demand. Germany, France, and the United Kingdom account for half of total European tomato imports, with France notably increasing imports from developing countries in recent years. European consumption of fresh tomatoes exceeds seven million tonnes, with per capita consumption at 15.6 kg. Bulgaria and Romania import fresh tomatoes steadily, with Turkey as the main supplier. Rising energy, input, and labor costs have led to higher tomato prices in recent years, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
Market Overview
BST Agri will focus on growing tomatoes initially, expanding into value-added products as market demands evolve, primarily targeting international buyers. With tomatoes accounting for 45% of global vegetable production and only 30% grown in greenhouses, BST Agri sees significant opportunity. Turkey ranks 3rd globally in greenhouse area, with competitive advantages including proximity to export markets, access to geothermal energy, and longer sunlight duration, reducing operational costs. Additionally, the vertical farming market, with investments totaling $5.5 billion since 2015, is projected to reach $20 billion by 2028, indicating substantial growth opportunities.
