Tehran - Iran and Italy have agreed to expand technical cooperation in water and soil management, marking a new phase in bilateral collaboration aimed at safeguarding natural resources and advancing sustainable agriculture through innovative technologies.

 

The agreement was reached during a joint webinar between the Iranian Ministry of Agriculture’s Deputy for Water and Soil Affairs and the Italian Agriculture Association, with the participation of senior officials, experts, representatives of Iran's Permanent Mission to the FAO, and the Soil and Water Research Institute.

 

The two sides identified smart and precision agriculture, water resource management, biofertilizers, saline agriculture, soil salinity control, and water desalination for agriculture and greenhouse production as priority areas for cooperation.

 

Safdar Niazi, Iran's Deputy Minister for Water and Soil Affairs, stressed that healthy soil underpins food security and sustainable agricultural production, emphasizing the need to improve water productivity while protecting natural resources. He also invited the Italian delegation to visit Iran to explore the country's expertise and achievements in water and soil management.

 

Stefano Ianiri, President of the Italian Agriculture Association, welcomed the initiative and highlighted the association's strengths in research, innovation, and digital agricultural technologies. The meeting concluded with an agreement to hold regular technical sessions to develop joint projects and deepen bilateral cooperation.