Tehran –The Iranian government plans boost the quality of its domestically produced pesticides by opening them up to competition in foreign markets, according to the head of the country's Plant Protection Organization.

Maryam Jalili Moghaddam emphasized the importance of high-quality pesticides for sustainable agricultural production and high-quality food, noting that rising temperatures, declining rainfall, and shifting pest and disease patterns pose a threat to food security.

She believes that access to global markets and competition with international players will drive improvements in pesticide standards and encourage the development and production of less hazardous options.