Tehran - The Deputy for Research, Technology, and Knowledge Transfer at Iran’s Plant Protection Research Institute has highlighted the institute’s extensive efforts in preventing the spread of pests, diseases, and invasive weeds, advancing biological pest control, and monitoring pesticide residues, stressing that plant protection research plays a decisive role in sustaining agricultural production and safeguarding food safety.

 

Hossein Najafi said the institute is carrying out wide-ranging activities aimed at preventing the entry and expansion of destructive pests, plant diseases, and invasive weeds into the country. He noted that assessing the impacts of climate change and its contribution to the emergence of new pest threats, addressing emerging food safety challenges, and monitoring pesticide residues in agricultural products are among the institute’s key research priorities.

 

Najafi added that the institute has also made significant progress in biological pest control, taking concrete steps in line with the goal of achieving “more food and healthier food.” These efforts, he said, are designed to reduce reliance on chemical inputs while maintaining stable and productive agricultural systems.

 

He emphasized that transferring research findings from laboratories and research centers to the field is a critical next step. In this process, plant protection clinics—due to their direct and continuous engagement with farmers, play a vital role in conveying scientific knowledge to practitioners.

 

Najafi noted that strengthening the technical capacity of these clinics can substantially reduce challenges faced by the agricultural sector.

 

Referring to biological control as one of the institute’s most important and long-standing research areas, Najafi said years of sustained work have produced valuable and practical results.

 

He added that biological pest control, particularly in greenhouse production systems, has achieved notable success, and that the application of these research outcomes has played a significant role in reducing pesticide consumption and promoting the production of healthier agricultural products.