Istanbul – Iran’s Minister of Agriculture called for urgent global action to curb the loss of water and food resources during a high-level international panel on preventing water and food waste in Istanbul, attended by senior officials, ministers, researchers, and international organizations.

 

In his address on Friday, Gholamreza Nouri noted that the protection of water and food has become a universal priority with direct implications for economic stability, social well-being, and environmental security.

 

He added that these essential resources also hold a meaningful place in religious and cultural traditions.

 

Underscoring Iran’s ancient legacy of water management, Nouri said, “Thousands of years ago, the Iranian people pioneered the qanat system and taught the world how to thrive in arid environments.”

 

He warned, however, that climate change, repeated droughts, water scarcity, declining renewable water resources, and rising food demand now pose critical challenges. “We face this situation at a time when more than 700 million people worldwide are hungry, yet over one billion meals are wasted every day,” he said.

 

The minister stressed that food and water losses fuel soil degradation, deplete groundwater, increase greenhouse-gas emissions, and accelerate climate change. “Cutting food loss is equivalent to cutting water loss—and it remains one of the most cost-effective and impactful strategies for boosting global food supply,” he noted.

 

Nouri detailed Iran’s national program to reduce agricultural waste from 30% to 15%. Key measures include strengthening value chains, developing loss-reduction guidelines, implementing product-tracking systems for horticultural goods, expanding cold-chain infrastructure, and reducing waste in major crops such as wheat, potatoes, apples, citrus, grapes, and dates. “Potato losses alone have fallen by 50% over the past 15 years,” he said.

 

Addressing water efficiency, he outlined Iran’s initiatives in improved water governance, integrated watershed management, groundwater-balance projects, large-scale watershed and aquifer-recharge programs, modern irrigation systems, greenhouse expansion, and support for seedling-based cultivation—all aimed at reducing pressure on scarce water resources.

 

Closing his remarks, the minister emphasized that global food security hinges on immediate collective action, “The future depends on the responsibility and cooperation we show today. If we succeed in reducing water and food waste, we will strengthen production, promote peace and stability, and support global health and sustainability.”