Dual-Use Technologies in Türkiye’s Defense Sector: Pathways to Agricultural Modernization and Strategic Autonomy

The recent restructuring of global supply chains, along with growing concerns about food security, has highlighted the potential benefits of applying innovations from the defense industry to agriculture. This article examines how UAVs, sensor networks, and AI systems, initially developed for military use, can be adapted to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and resilience in agriculture. Concerning strategic autonomy, the study synthesizes the dynamic framework of Türkiye’s national innovation system with open innovation theory, employing a mixed-methods approach that includes policy document analyses, pilot project evaluations, and quantitative data comparisons of defense spending with agricultural productivity. Key findings reveal that Türkiye benefits from well-coordinated interactions between the state and farmers. Lastly, this study highlights the potential advancements in precision agriculture, cost efficiency, and enhanced technological sovereignty, arguing that innovations derived from military applications can aid in climate change adaptation and reduce dependency on foreign suppliers.