On May 10, 2022 IOFS Director General HE Mr. Yerlan A. Baidaulet visited Agriculture Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII) in Karaj city, capital of Alborz Province. Established in 1999, ABRII aims to utilize and develop agricultural bio- and nanotechnologies to solve agri sector problems and food security issues. ABRII’s influential foremost scientists and researchers presented about developing an extraction of stevioside as a healthy natural sweetener from Stevia rebaudiana and sweet varieties of Sorghum.
Dr. Gholamreza Salehi Jouzani, Professor of Microbiotechnology during the meeting with IOFS Director General noted that ABRII as a technology- and product- based institution is eager to develop cooperation with IOFS geared to utilize and develop novel agricultural technologies to enhance food safety and promote self- sufficiency in agricultural products in OIC region.
IOFS delegation further visited Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO) under the Ministry of Agriculture - Jahad of IRI. AREEO pursues to develop research activities of agriculture and natural resources to facilitate an effective collaboration between Iranian Institutes and other recognized research programs within the OIC region. Organisation’s Seed and Plant Improvement institute embraces 34 research centers and 59 research stations who perform annually more than 800 research projects in different fields, saves the largest among OIC countries collection and conservation of plant genetic resources (more than 140,000 accessions of cultivated crops).
HE Yerlan A. Baidaulet at the AREEO’s seed and plant institution had meetings with several eminent researchers such as the Molecular Plant Physiologist and Plant breeder, Dr.Massod Soltani Najafabadi, the Head of National Plant Gene bank of Iran, Dr.Behzad Sorkhi and the Genetics, Plant and wheat breeder, Dr. Goodarz Najafian. Scope of discussions included issues of conservation of plant genetic resources with special priority for crops to provide the possibility of exploiting genetic materials for agricultural researchers thereby to address food security problems in the country and within the OIC geography.
In addition, Director General along with research institutions, visited high-tech greenhouse that embodies eco-friendly economically efficient technologies eliminating chemical pesticides employment and cultivating less dependent on climate factor with higher input of nutrients pepper varieties.
IOFS Director General conveyed appreciation on activities of Iranian scientific research institutions, particularly in enabling sustainable agriculture development and healthy food protection system and emphasized its importance in enhancing cooperation to implement key decisions of the 2nd OIC STI Agenda 2026 Steering Committee held on 24 March 2022 in Islamabad, Pakistan.
