Iran-Germany Collaboration in Manufacturing and Exporting Medicinal Plants and Organic Products

a shared meeting between the agriculture ministers of Iran and Germany, the deputy minister of Agriculture Jihad and head of Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Dr. Eskandar Zand, proposed a collaboration between the two countries regarding research especially in the field of plant pathology, pesticides and biological control.
Referring to the good history of collaboration in terms of agricultural research between the two countries of Iran and Germany, he said, “The German researchers have been the pioneers of some areas of our agricultural research, especially in biology and plant pathology, and we are hoping that such collaborations will continue in a more official and serious manner.”
Short term educational programs for experts and researchers as well as preparing the ground for the studies of plant pathology, the suitable application of pesticides, the use of less hazardous pesticides and biological control, are all among the research collaborations between the two countries.
He added, “Since there is good germplasm in Iran, especially for wheat, we have a shared collaboration with research centers of Germany in order to breed this product with the emphasis on cold areas and rapeseed.”
This head of Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization referred to the organic production in Iran and said, “Stressing the organic production and export are among the other collaborations between the Iranian and German research centers.”
According to him, the extraction of active pharmaceutical ingredients of plants for production of herbal medicine, packaging , export as well as research of these plants are all among the major plans of Ministry of Agriculture Jihad and suitable grounds for the collaboration between the two countries.
In this meeting, deputy minister of Ministry of Agriculture Jihad, Livestock Affairs, Dr. Rokni, also indicated, “Iran and Germany have had great collaborations in the field of livestock and poultry, laboratory equipment, breeding and livestock nutrition and we will continue to do so.”
He pointed out Iran’s experience in meat production at the moment and proposed a joint investment in this regard.
Rokni added, “We are experiencing a good position in respect to chickens, eggs and dairy products that has made it possible to export them to the countries of the region.”
He referred to the export of leather, skin and dairy products to Germany and expressed hope that the export of these products will continue to rise.
This deputy minister of Ministry of Agriculture Jihad, Livestock Affairs deemed the import of turkey and fleshy chicks important and effective for breeders and said, “We are seeking the import of mother turkey in order to develop production in our country.”
Dr. Mehdi Khalaj, the director of Iran Veterinary Organization, stressed the increase in the collaboration between the two countries in the production of medicine, poultry and livestock vaccination, and proposed a joint investment in this regard.
He indicated that Iran’s livestock pharmaceutical industry is improving then added, “The Iranian investors are prepared to start a shared collaboration with the Germans.”
Khalaj pointed out, “Some Iranian companies and farmers have had negotiations to import genomic cattle and simmental cattle and we have prepared the necessary health requirements and sent it to the German veterinary medical organization.”
Ministry of Agriculture Jihad data base