Tehran – Iran has seen a significant surge in its medicinal plant sector, with over 600 processing and packaging units now operational nationwide, according to the director of the Iranian Agriculture Ministry’s medicinal plants national plan.

Hossein Zeynali said this expansion aims to curb the export of raw materials and capitalize on the country’s rich biodiversity.

Iran exported more than 100,000 tons of medicinal plants last year and is home to approximately 2,300 medicinal plant species, he added.

The country’s diverse climate and vast plant habitats offer immense potential for growth in this industry.

While Iran boasts a thriving medicinal plant sector, challenges such as insufficient funding and a shortage of skilled labor hinder its full potential. Despite these obstacles, the industry employs over 400,000 people, contributing significantly to the economy.

Government initiatives to register tariff codes for medicinal plants and establish refineries demonstrate a commitment to regulating and developing this vital sector.