Business Potential for Agricultural Biotechnology - Asian Productivity ...

Status of Agricultural Biotechnology in the Islamic Republic of Iran
• Establishing the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute in Karaj.
• Establishing the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute in Esfahan.
At the same time that biotechnological research centers were being established, academic
and educational centers began to design formal biotechnology courses.
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS IN AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH
Razi Research Institute
Activities of this institute are considered “traditional” biotechnology. It has been a pioneer
in research, mass production, and localizing the technology of vaccine and serum production. In
addition to producing human vaccine, the institute produces some 3.3 million doses of livestock
vaccine and 350 thousand doses of fowl vaccine each year.
Research Center for Agricultural Biotechnology
Activities of this center are considered “modern” biotechnology. Despite the fact that this
institute was established only recently, it has had significant achievements.
Production of Transgenic Cotton
Each year some 150 thousand ha of farmland are allocated to cotton cultivation. Almost
400 tons of chemical pesticide are used for pest eradication. If production is increased at the
same time that transgenic cotton resistant to cotton pod worms is introduced, costs will decrease
and there will be less use of chemical pesticides, resulting in less environmental pollution.
Production of Transgenic Rice
Introduction of transgenic rice resistant to some pests and fungal diseases concurrent with
increased production may lead to a decrease in costs and eventually less environmental pollution
due to decreased use of chemical pesticide. This year, transgenic rice is being cultivated in 2,000
ha of the country’s rice fields; the amount will be increased in future years.
Production of Biofertilizer for Paddy Rice
Because of the high costs of production and distribution of chemical pesticides and the resulting
environmental pollution, the Research Center for Agricultural Biotechnology has decided
to produce biofertilizers from local bacteria and algae. This will reduce costs for the production
and distribution of chemical pesticides and decrease environmental pollution.
Production of Biopesticides to Eliminate Agricultural Pests
Insects cause great damage to plants, reducing crop production by 10%–20% annually.
Each year 23,000 tons of chemical pesticides are used to kill agricultural pests, at an import cost
of USD35 million. The Research Center for Agricultural Biotechnology has not only produced
biopesticides but also proved their effectiveness on rice pests in farm tests. Industrial production
of these biopesticides, in addition to preserving the environment and consumers’ health, has
reduced the cost of producing crops significantly.
Production of Virus-free Potato Seed
The total area cultivated to potato is about 60,000 ha. Use of contaminated seed increases
the spread of viral infections and thus the damage to potato farms. Using uncontaminated seed
increases production by at least to 30%; potato production could be increased from 3 million to
4.5 million tons.
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