Beti Minkin and the Anatolia Foundation in Turkey
OWA Finalist 2010
Born and raised in Turkey, Beti Minkin has spent most of her adult life in the USA, but always displayed a passion for her native land. Since the 1990s, she pioneered holistic sustainability projects in regions where biodiversity is prolific but greatly endangered. Her vision and enthusiasm are truly inspirational.
Her “Tohum” (“Seed” in Turkish) ventures raised local awareness of the importance of heirloom seeds, traditional foods and natural lifestyles. The Tohum® Natural Foods brand she created still exports organic artisan foods from Anatolian villages to the benefit of community health and economy.
Most recently, under the auspices of the Anatolia Foundation, Beti Minkin initiated an extensive agro-biodiversity sustainability program in the remote Kars Province of Eastern Turkey. The project links bio-conservation with organic food production and ecologically viable livelihood. It focuses on a full-scale organic certification program with over 200 farmers and the revival of the ancient grain “Kavilca” or emmer (Triticum dicoccum), amongst other important traditional crops such as flaxseed and red wheat.
"Ökologische Experimente mit der Wahrheit"
The project includes the full production cycle, from sowing seeds on organic farms to selling the products on global markets. The heirloom seeds rescued from the brink of extinction now provide raw materials to the local community for developing marketable organic products. In this context, a bakery in Kars will soon start marketing the traditional “pide bread” (flat bread) made with the project’s organic whole red wheat flour. Whole grain emmer and barley products are also in the works.
The project also promotes traditional wildflower honey with new colonies of the endangered Caucasian queen bee. Other programs include a scientific survey of local medicinal plants and botanical product formulation workshops for village women.
The project also promotes traditional wildflower honey with new colonies of the endangered Caucasian queen bee. Other programs include a scientific survey of local medicinal plants and botanical product formulation workshops for village women.
www.anatoliafoundation.org 
