Pınar Institute joins Business Call to Action (BCtA) with a pledge to support dairy farmers in Turkey

Izmir, Turkey 1 August 2017 – Pınar Dairy joins Business Call to Action (BCtA) with its "The Future of our Milk is in Safe Hands" project, initiated by the Pınar Institute to support the sustainability of national dairy sector and small scale dairy farming in Turkey. Under this project, Pinar trains producers to increase their productivity, incomes and the quality of their milk. Trainings will be open to all producers who want to participate.

Launched in 2008, BCtA aims to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by challenging companies to develop inclusive business models that engage people with less than US$8 per day in purchasing power as consumers, producers, suppliers and distributors. It is supported by several international organizations and hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Turkey is among the biggest ten milk producing countries in the world. However, the volume of milk produced by small scale farmers is gradually decreasing. Required feed and other inputs for milk production are expensive. As a result, farmers face difficulty raising enough capital to buy modern equipment. Milk quality is in danger due to animal health problems considerably decreasing milk production, as well as a lack of health services and appropriate hygiene conditions. Small scale milk producers should be supported with access to more information in this respect.

Believing in the importance of training on production of quality and healthy milk and milk products, Pınar has trained milk producers since the company was founded, including through the “The Future of our Milk is in Safe Hands” project which was developed in partnership with Pınar Dairy & Çamlı Feed and Fattening. The project raises awareness among producers of animal health, animal feeding and hygiene/sanitation in cooperation with public-university-industry, as it is conducted in partnership with the Directorates of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Milk Producers Unions & Cooperatives and Universities. In this way, contribution will be made to protect public health, increase quality and efficiency as well as the producers’ prosperity.

İdil Yiğitbaşı, Chairperson of the Board of Pınar Institute, said trainings were available for all producers, and added: “As Pınar Dairy, we have given great importance to increasing the knowledge and competence of our producers since our company was founded in 1973. If we want to produce our products in higher quality standards continuously, we will continue supporting milk producers through trainings. Such training activities are giving positive results in terms of productivity and quality.”

“Pınar Institute’s support to milk producers enhances the company’s products while improving the lives of dairy farming families,” said Paula Pelaez, BCtA Programme Manager. “Pınar Institute’s inclusive initiative demonstrates perfectly how businesses can contribute to achieving several SDGs simultaneously while achieving commercial sustainability.”

As part of its BCtA commitment, one-to-one activities will be conducted with two pilot farms and ten farmers who have their own chilling tankers so as to show how the project has increased productivity and decreased production costs.

For more information:
BCtA: Aimee Brown, aimee.brown@undp.org
Pınar Dairy / Pınar Institute: Ümit Savcıgil, umit.savcigil@pinarenstitusu.org.tr

BCtA membership does not constitute a partnership with its funding and programme partners, UNDP or any UN agency.

About Business Call to Action (BCtA): Launched at the United Nations in 2008, BCtA aims to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by challenging companies to develop inclusive business models that yield both commercial success and development impact. BCtA is a unique multilateral alliance among donor governments including the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), UK Department for International Development, US Agency for International Development, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Finland, and the United Nations Development Programme — which hosts the secretariat. For more information, please visit www.businesscalltoaction.org or find us on Twitter at @BCtAInitiative.

About Pınar: Founded in 1973, Pınar holds various successful brands including milk and dairy products, sales and marketing, feed and livestock and drinking water. Pınar is the first brand which has extended the concept of healthy milk and milk products in Turkey with over 5000 employees. Pınar has dedicated itself to support milk farmers since it was founded. In this way, farmers are able to produce the best quality products for consumers while living a good quality of life. This reliable brand has been expanded to Middle East, Turkic Republics and Germany, distributing products such as fresh and long-lasting milk, yoghurt, cheese and ayran, a yoghurt drink. For more information about Pınar and various product groups, visit http://eng.pinar.com.tr/default.aspx

About Pınar Institute: Pınar Institute is a non-profit and non-commercial organization that was established on the idea of social responsibility with the aim of raising public awareness of food, health, nutrition and contributing to healthy social development, and was launched on 13 June 2013.