Iran Organic Association hosted a seminar to highlight key areas of development to support Iran’s organic sector, including education, infrastructure and international collaboration
Iran Organic Association (IOA) commemorated its 18th anniversary with a seminar focused on the efforts being made to identify organic production areas across Iran and establish new companies and organisations, according to Iranian cooperative Zarrin Group, which attended the meeting.
The IOA has created a vast information bank on organic products, according to Zarrin’s CEO, Alireza Emami, including collaborations on academic research and educational and legal assistance.
Despite the growth of organic agriculture worldwide, said Emami, Iran has yet to secure a strong position in this expanding market.
Globally, the land under organic management has grown to over 96mn hectares, and the number of organic producers has surged, especially in countries like India. However, Iran faces numerous challenges, including the development of infrastructure and promotion of organic agriculture nationwide.
“During the seminar, participants addressed various challenges faced by organic agriculture in Iran,” said Emami, “including the need to comply with international standards for organic products, which is crucial for Iran’s integration into the global trade scene, including initiation into the World Trade Organisation (WTO).”
Other topics included resolving misunderstandings about organic products through scientific discourse and strengthening collaboration with various organisations, such as Iran’s Ministry of Agriculture.
“In addition, participants in the seminar emphasised the importance of promoting ecological agriculture, raising public awareness about the benefits of organic products, and educating consumers about the hazardous nature of GMOs,” said Emami.
The seminar also featured a discussion of the vital role of education for organic agriculture to progress in Iran. “Many farmers face huge challenges in adapting to organic methods due to their limited access to the necessary information and training. Education about organic farming practices and the differences between organic and genetically modified products, and the promotion of sustainable agricultural techniques, are a necessity for progress in this field.”
Looking to the future, the importance of resuming research and proposing new schemes to support organic production was highlighted at the seminar.
“There is a firm belief that the growing global interest in organic production provides opportunities for Iran to expand its organic sector,” said Emami. “However, coordinated efforts to raise public awareness and the development of a cultural understanding of organic agriculture are crucial.”
These are two of the goals set by Zarrin’s research and development department. “Although organic agriculture in Iran has made progress, there is still a long way to go,” said Emami. “Comprehensive education, closer monitoring of organic product certifications and increased collaboration between the public and private sectors are fundamental steps to ensure the growth and sustainability of organic agriculture in the country.”
