Implemented in partnership between Anadolu Efes and UNDP Türkiye, the “Second Harvest” project introduces a new production model driven by secondary raw materials by reintegrating barley stalks into the economy through the power of women’s labor, art, and design.

Carried out jointly by Anadolu Efes and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Türkiye, the “Second Harvest” project focuses on repurposing the stalks left in the fields after the barley harvest for use in creative industries. Within the scope of the project, collaborations are being carried out with the Adıyaman-based Eliyaman Women’s Initiative Cooperative, Fortuna Women Entrepreneurs Cooperative, and the MILKist Social Design Center. Supported by volunteer designers and artists, the project transforms barley stalks - traditionally regarded as agricultural waste - through women’s labor and design, reintegrating them into the production cycle.

Throughout the project period, the initiative progresses in phases featuring different artists and artworks. Revenues generated from the artworks created during this process are offered for sale through online auctions, with proceeds transferred to the cooperatives.

Selda Susal Saatçi, Anadolu Efes Group Chief Corporate Communications and Affairs Officer, emphasized that sustainability is no longer solely an environmental issue, but also an area of economic and social transformation, stating:

“Today, the global economy still largely operates on a ‘take, make, consume, and dispose’ model. However, at a time when resources are becoming increasingly critical, the circular economy approach is gaining greater importance every day from a sustainability perspective. According to the Circularity Gap Report 2026 by Circle Economy, the world experiences an annual value loss of approximately EUR 25.4 trillion. This picture makes it necessary for companies to go beyond simply consuming less and instead establish systems that redesign products, reintegrate waste into production processes, and reduce

value loss. As Anadolu Efes, we approach sustainability not only through environmental targets, but also from the perspectives of agriculture, social development, and local production. We care not only about expanding the impact we create, but also about ensuring its long-term permanence. This understanding lies at the heart of our ‘Deepening Impact’ approach. Our story begins with the soil. We source two of our four main raw materials directly from the land. We see the future of the soil as the future of production, and we focus on improving soil health through regenerative agriculture practices. Through the Second Harvest project, implemented in partnership with UNDP Türkiye, we aim to demonstrate how agricultural by-products can be transformed into renewed value.”

Ceyda Alpay, Economic Growth and Competitiveness Portfolio Manager at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Türkiye, also shared the following assessment regarding the project:

“As UNDP, we have built a strong partnership with Anadolu Efes in the field of sustainability spanning nearly 17 years. ‘Second Harvest’ presents a highly valuable model that brings together the reutilization of agricultural by-products with women’s empowerment and local development. We believe that this approach - in which women are positioned at the center of production processes - can be replicated across different regions and adapted to different agricultural products. What truly matters is the approach itself: recognizing and revaluing an existing local resource, placing women’s labor and knowledge at the center, increasing added value through design and market linkages, and considering all of this together with environmental benefits. Second Harvest actually reminds us of something powerful: once one harvest ends, another can begin. The first harvest comes from agriculture; the second harvest emerges from women’s labor, creativity, and the new value chains built collectively. We believe that this model, which combines the circular economy approach with social impact, can serve as an inspiring example for different regions as well.”

Birnur Temel Birtane, Founder of the MILKist Social Design Center, stated: “Second Harvest is not merely a project focused on transforming agricultural waste into secondary raw materials; it is a multilayered process that makes visible the knowledge embedded in the soil, local production culture, and the role of agriculture as a starting point for different sectors. Within this project, women become not only producers, but also stakeholders who carry and transfer knowledge into the future. While building new connections between agriculture and design, we aim to develop more sustainable production models together with artists and designers from different disciplines.”

The MILKist Social Design Center is transforming barley stalks into surfaces that can be used for art and design, together with women from Adıyaman. Supported by volunteer artists and designers, the project gives rise to artworks ranging from decorative materials to accessories.

The project is planned to expand to other provinces

Artists contributing to the project through 16 artworks of varying sizes and disciplines - including printmaking, embroidery, sculpture, drawing, collage, and digital art - include Cansu Sönmez, Deniz Eroğlu, Elif Acar, Ezra Tuba, Gülçin Uzun, Nergiz Yeşil, Pınar Yeğin, Reyhan Polat, Rozelin Akgün, and Şeyma Canik. Among Türkiye’s leading designers, Arzu Kaprol, Başak Cankeş, and Simay Bülbül are also guiding the barley stalk R&D process through their expertise in textile design. Within the scope of “Second Harvest,” the next phase aims to expand fieldwork with women’s cooperatives, develop new design products, and establish a permanent production and workshop model in Adıyaman. Looking ahead, the model is also planned to be replicated in other provinces where production takes place in order to further scale the project’s impact.

At the same time, the stories of women’s cooperatives in Adıyaman, along with their material knowledge, production techniques, and cultural heritage, will be incorporated into international research processes through open-access resources such as remote training sessions and videos filmed by the women participating directly in the production process.

The “Soil to Surface” exhibition, to be held in September at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York, will showcase the transformation of a soil-based material through creative production processes. This reciprocal learning model established between Adıyaman and New York will bring local production knowledge together with academic and research-based design practices, while the “Second Harvest” project itself will present an inclusive collaboration model that combines agricultural production, design, and social impact.