Tehran - Iran has called for a shift from general agreements to practical, results-oriented agricultural cooperation among Islamic countries, with a focus on strengthening food security, advancing agricultural technology, and expanding scientific collaboration.

 

Gholamreza Golmohammadi, deputy agriculture minister and head of the Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), made the remarks at a ceremony in Astana, Kazakhstan, marking the signing of a memorandum of understanding between AREEO and the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS).

 

He described the agreement as a platform for aligning Iran's scientific and research capabilities with the food security needs of Islamic countries, stressing that its success would depend on translating commitments into tangible joint initiatives.

 

Drawing on recent crises and challenging conditions, Golmohammadi said domestic expertise, efficient resource management, and robust production infrastructure were essential to strengthening national resilience.

 

Climate change, population growth, and regional crises have made closer cooperation among Islamic countries increasingly important to ensuring a safe, reliable, and sustainable food supply, he added.

 

Golmohammadi said AREEO was prepared to actively participate in IOFS programs, highlighting its extensive scientific and research infrastructure.

 

The organization comprises 20 specialized institutes, 34 provincial research centers, 314 research and training units, and more than 2,000 researchers.

 

Its expertise spans genetic resource conservation, seed and vaccine production, biological products, crop and livestock breeding, pest and disease management, and advanced agricultural technologies.

 

He emphasized that cooperation should go beyond broad commitments to deliver practical projects with measurable results.

Golmohammadi proposed establishing a joint network to develop and promote modern agricultural technologies across Islamic countries, facilitating knowledge-sharing and technology transfer.

Other potential areas of cooperation include hosting researchers and technical experts from member states, expanding joint training programs, collaborating on vaccine storage, and developing financing mechanisms to support joint projects.

The AREEO chief also highlighted opportunities to develop joint initiatives in rural employment, saying they could strengthen food security, support sustainable rural development, and unlock the economic potential of agriculture.

He reaffirmed AREEO's readiness to provide scientific and technical support for implementing the memorandum, expressing hope that cooperation with IOFS would strengthen agricultural resilience and help secure sustainable food supplies across Islamic countries.