31.07.2025 Fevzi Çondur, Chairman of Aydın Commodity Exchange: “Opening Olive Groves to Mining Will Lead to Irreversible Losses

Fevzi Çondur, Chairman of the Aydın Commodity Exchange, made a statement regarding the recently passed law by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, which includes regulations related to energy and mining zones. The legislation permits mining activities in olive-growing areas, a move that Çondur strongly criticized for its potential to harm not only the environment but also agricultural lands, farmers, and the national economy.

“This law, which has sparked widespread concern across the country, is unacceptable—especially at a time when agricultural production and food security are becoming increasingly vital,” Çondur stated. He emphasized that Aydın is one of Turkey’s most important agricultural regions, holding a strategic position in olive and olive oil production.

There are approximately 40,000 farmers registered in the Farmer Registration System (ÇKS) in Aydın. “For us, the olive is not just a crop,” Çondur said, “it is a symbol of our land, our labor, and our thousands of years of culture. Preserving this heritage and passing it on to future generations is our shared responsibility.”

According to 2024 data, Aydın has a total of 25,110,538 olive trees, producing 517,487 tons (517,487,000 kg) of olives. Çondur highlighted that Aydın Memecik Olive and Aydın Memecik Olive Oil—both registered with Geographical Indication by the European Union—represent not only economic but also cultural value. These products contribute significantly to the national economy through both domestic and international markets.

Citing 2024 production data, Çondur said: “This year’s yield includes 152,362 tons of table olives and 365,125 tons of olives for oil production. Olive cultivation takes place across more than 1.5 million decares of land in our province. The market value of table olives produced in Aydın is approximately 5 billion TL, while olive oil reaches nearly 11 billion TL. These products generate significant economic circulation through harvesting, processing, and marketing both at home and abroad. Destroying olive groves would break this cycle, leading to major financial losses in our region.”

Çondur warned that opening olive-growing areas to mining will have not only environmental but also severe social and economic consequences. He concluded his statement with a call to action:

“As Aydın Commodity Exchange, we strongly reaffirm that olive groves must be protected, agricultural lands should not be opened to mining, and sustainable agricultural policies must be supported. Olives represent our future, and protecting that future is a shared duty for all of us.”