The “Anatolians Project,” implemented under the leadership of Cappadocia University and with the support of the Ahiler Development Agency, is a pioneering initiative that combines Turkey’s cultural heritage with sustainability and quality standards. The project aims to both preserve local products shaped by traditional Anatolian production methods and make them competitive in global markets. The product and producer accreditation criteria developed within this scope are designed in line with traceability, transparency, and quality standards; and are aligned with national and international sustainability principles.
During the project, pilot field studies were conducted with 5 products and 5 producers; the applicability of the criteria was tested and finalized as a result of these studies. Furthermore, auditor training programs, an accreditation handbook, certification processes, and promotional materials were prepared within the scope of the project, both developing institutional capacity and laying the groundwork for the widespread adoption of the system. In this context, the project aims to create a strong impact not only at the academic level but also at the sectoral and societal levels.
Anatolians offers a unique and exemplary model for Turkey in line with the goals of sustainable production, cultural heritage preservation, and rural development. The fact that the project outputs are both aligned with UN SDG goals 8 and 12 and draw upon the GSTC experience makes this study valuable and scalable on an international scale.
