Business Potential for Agricultural Biotechnology - Asian Productivity ...

7. STATUS OF AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
IN THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
Esmaeil Nasr Esfahani
Agricultural Planning and Economic Research Institute
Ministry of Jihad-e Agriculture
Tehran
INTRODUCTION
The agricultural sector of the Islamic Republic of Iran has made considerable achievements
in supplying food commodities, largely attributable to increased production capabilities and the
availability of resources, including 37 million ha of arable land, 118 billion cubic m of available
water resources, diversified climate conditions and the potential for producing diversified tropical
and cold-climate crops, renewable natural resources (forests and rangelands of 102.4 billion
ha, 2,700 km of coastal water), and skilled manpower and producers. However, the condition of
basic resources has gradually worsened, and their sustainability is in question. About 8.1 million
ha of the 12.4 million ha of forests are at risk of severe degradation and require protection; only
10.5% of the 88.6 million ha of rangelands are considered good, and 49% are poor to very poor.
Use of ground water resources exceeds the natural recharge rate and has resulted in a reduction
in groundwater levels. Most of the reservoirs are at risk of water scarcity. Large sections
of the cultivated area are under-irrigated; average irrigation efficiency is 38%, so that significant
renewable water resources are not available for plant consumption. Salinization and waterlogging
add to the problem, and overuse of chemicals to control pests threatens human health.
Biotechnology may provide a way to end the overuse of basic resources and enhance their
sustainability.
HISTORY OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN IRAN
Biotechnology consists of a group of technologies that use biological elements. This valuable
modern science, only recently developed, has brought about significant changes. Iran started
using modern biotechnology about two decades after the developed countries, that is, from the
mid-1990s, but only in the past five years has this technology been seriously considered. As a
result of poor investment and a lack of clear objectives and policies, the country is still preparing
the groundwork for using biotechnology to address economic needs.
After the war with Iraq ended, the government allocated funds to improve biotechnology,
with these goals:
• Supporting established research centers, such as the Pastor Institute of Iran and the Razi
Research Institute, in carrying out research in biotechnology.
• Establishing the National Research Center for Genetic and Biotechnology Engineering.
• Constituting the Biotechnological Research Center in the Organization of Industrial and
Scientific Research.
• Conducting biotechnological research in the Biochemistry and Biophysics Research Institute
at Tehran University.
• Founding the Biotechnology Committee in the Scientific Research Council in order to
prepare a national biotechnology plan and create an atmosphere of cooperation among
those involved in biotechnology research and production.
• Founding biotechnology departments in research institutes such as the Seed and Plant Improvement
Research Institute, the Forests and Rangelands Research Institute, industrial
universities, and science, agriculture, and medical colleges.
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