Fars - The Fars Provincial Agriculture Department has issued its first license for producing dairy-based protein powders used in infant formula - an important step toward lowering the country’s dependence on imports.

 

Mahmoud Baseri, Director of Processing and Food Industries at the Fars Agriculture Department, said the new license authorizes the production of advanced protein powders, including DW90—an essential component that makes up about 60 percent of infant formula—and WPC powder, a key input for pharmaceutical applications, nutritional supplements, and whey protein production.

 

“Until now, most of these materials were sourced from abroad.”

 

Baseri described DW90 as the “missing link” in Iran’s ability to produce infant formula domestically.

 

He emphasized that localizing production of this ingredient at Pegah Fars could substantially reduce reliance on imported formula components, “especially from the Netherlands.”

 

The official added that the powders have high added value, strong export potential, and can significantly enhance productivity and foreign currency earnings in the dairy industry.

 

Baseri also noted that the project has been classified as a “mega project” in recent correspondence with the Ministry of Agriculture, a designation intended to facilitate access to financing.

 

“The initiative requires an investment of 1.7 trillion tomans; while the production facilities have already been constructed with private capital, additional funding is still needed to procure machinery and bring the production line fully online.”