Key takeaway: Over 30 years, Gözde Ziraî (Türkiye) has grown from a small family farm into a professional seed-potato player, focusing on processing varieties and “green” solutions that require less water and fertilizer.
Guest: Metin Sut, Marketing & Sales Director, Gözde Ziraî.
History and succession
The company was founded in 1994/1995 by Metin’s grandfather, Hasi Yusuf. In 2012, the second generation (Metin’s uncle, now General Manager) joined the leadership—marking a turning point toward professionalized processes. Previously, about six people worked in a “mixed” setup (seed and table potatoes, early plantings). With new management, the focus shifted to streamlined operations and partnerships.
In 2016–2017, Gözde Ziraî signed a distribution agreement with HZPC to supply and promote Dutch varieties in Türkiye. Today the company combines seed imports, marketing, and field-level seed production.
“In just a few years, we became far more corporate: if earlier we had roughly 20% ‘cooperative-style’ operations, now it’s about 80%. By 2030, we aim to reach the highest professional standards,” says Metin Sut.
A decisive pivot to processing
A global shift of recent years is the rapid rise of processing (fries, chips) varieties. In Türkiye, this acceleration became clear after 2020: at Gözde Ziraî, sales of processing varieties surpassed table potatoes.
Popular lines include Innovator, Challenger, and newer additions (the interview mentions Cardima). Variety registration patterns are also changing: if an illustrative “30 applications” once included only 4–5 processing entries and ~25 table entries (e.g., Colomba, Lucinda), today the balance is flipping—more processing varieties are being registered.
“Green” varieties and climate challenges
The company is betting on “green” newcomers—varieties that need less fertilizer and water. Examples mentioned in the interview include:
- Chameleon — designed to reduce fertilizer use;
- Quintera — early maturity, better heat/sun tolerance, lower water demand, solid storability.
“We want to do less—and deliver more: less water, less chemistry, more resilience. That’s an investment in the long term,” Metin notes.
Farm structure in Türkiye
Field sizes vary by region. In the west and central regions, fields of 20–50 ha (or larger) are common; in the north and northeast, 1–2 ha plots are typical, complicating operations. On average, a single field is 4–5 ha, while a single company may cultivate 50–100 ha or more.
Personal motivation and the “harvest moment”
Metin admits he loves harvest season most: when the machine exposes the tubers, the “yellow flesh” turns effort into a visible result. That moment helps the team stay focused even during stressful situations (e.g., customer claims).
Message to the industry: water and informed agronomy
Gözde Ziraî’s main appeal is water stewardship and informed agronomy. Different varieties have different needs—irrigation and nutrition can’t be copy-pasted. Knowing why you apply each practice (fertilizer, protection, irrigation) saves resources and reduces environmental footprint.
“If you irrigate a water-loving variety the same as a water-sparing one, you’ll waste not only money—you’ll waste water. Without water, there’s no potatoes and no food,” Metin emphasizes.
Gözde Ziraî’s plans
The company will continue strengthening French-fries varieties and partnerships with processors across Türkiye, while maintaining a table-variety portfolio. The strategic goal is sustainability: fewer operations and costs with greater returns for farmers and processors.
