The foundation of Tekfen Holding—an organization unequivocally, identified with reliability, honesty, and quality—was established, in 1956 by when three young entrepreneurs, Feyyaz Berker, Nihat Gökyiğit, and Necati Akçağlılar joined forces that year to launch their vision and realize their aspirations. Possessing numerous easily recognizable brand names (as well as a considerable market share), the group is both prominent and well-respected throughout the Turkish business community today. With unwavering dedication to an approach that targets excellence in every field of operation and advocates values that uphold the highest of ethical standards, Tekfen Holding today consists of five main divisions: Engineering and Contracting, Industrial Chemistry, Agricultural Production, Services, and Investments.
With a primary focus on the manufacture of plant nutrients (fertilizers), Toros Tarım Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş.—, the umbrella company of the Tekfen Chemical Industry Group—, continues its operations in the production of mineral fertilizers, special water-soluble fertilizers, and organic/organomineral fertilizers. Holding 38% of the total installed production capacity of conventional fertilizers in Turkey, Toros Agri is the largest firm in its sector in terms of production and market share. The company ranks 57th in the listing of ‘Turkey’s Top 500 Industrial Enterprises of 2020” publicized’ by the Istanbul Chamber of Industry.
Using its investments from Toros Gönen and Toros Meram Renewable Energy, Toros Agri has started the generation of biogas and energy from organic waste in recent years. Through the wise use of these investments, it has become one of the key participants in the organic and organomineral fertilizer market within, Turkey, Toros Agri also won the “Istanbul Chemicals and Chemical Products Exporters Association (‘İKMİB) Stars of Export Award-four times in a row—in the chemical fertilizer exports category between 2017 and 2020.
In addition to fertilizer production, Toros Agri has invested in port management, free zone management, and fuel oil management. These operations come, under the jurisdiction of the Tekfen Holding’s Service Group.
Toros Agri considers the development of agriculture—, the starting point of the food chain—to be, a multifaceted cycle. Ever since the company’s inception, it has always been an established policy to take an active role in this process. The company looks to enhance its merchandise portfolio with new innovations in the field of plant nutrition. Fertilizer is one of the most essential elements of sustainable agriculture, and Toros Agri views the introduction of technological advances to Turkish agriculture as one of its main responsibilities.
As Turkey’s largest agricultural firm, Toros Agri, has established our country’s first R&D Center devoted to the field of plant nutrition (fertilizer). It is located within the Mersin Production Facility and operates under the Research Planning and Coordination Assistant Manager Directorship. In order to meet the demands and requirements of the agricultural sector, scientific research and product development, the improvement of existing products, and process development studies are conducted at the Toros Agri R&D Center. The Center was approved by the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology of the Republic of Turkey in August 2017.
In our R&D Center, priority is given to the development of new product lines that will contribute to greater yields and efficiency, using the most up-to-date technologies in the field of plant nutrition. With formulation and development protocols undertaken for just this purpose, it is our aim to expand Toros Agri’s existing portfolio to include new products with upgraded characteristics that will enhance the productivity of the farmer. Studies are also being conducted to increase the physical and chemical efficiency, endurance, and duration of existing products. In our R&D Center, studies are underway for the development of special fertilizer types and the domestic production of goods and supplies that are not made in our country. Developing and optimizing the production process, saving energy throughout the production cycle, and reducing environmental impacts are also among the goals of the Toros Agri R&D Center.
The research laboratory in our center is equipped for measurements across a range of different parameters. Most notably, the focus is on fertilizer,analysis. Scientific trials of newly developed products are conducted in our R&D Greenhouse, which became operational in the first half of 2020.
At the Toros Agri R&D Center, we work in partnership with a number of universities, cooperates within the scope of determined targets, carries out projects in coordination with academics who are experts in their fields. Within the scope of clearly defined targets, we coordinate with them to carry out projects and organize, training programs for competence development.