TEHRAN – Iran is seeking to achieve self-sufficiency in sugar production while reducing agricultural water consumption by expanding autumn sugar beet cultivation and developing alternative natural sweeteners, a senior agricultural research official said.

 

Abazar Rajabi, head of the Sugar Beet Seed Research and Improvement Institute, said the strategy is part of Iran’s broader food security and water-management plans.

 

Iran aims to increase the area under sugar crops—including spring and autumn sugar beet and sugarcane—from 202,000 to 235,000 hectares, raising annual sugar production from 1.47 million to 2.2 million tons by the end of the Seventh Development Plan.

 

Rajabi said expanding autumn cultivation offers an effective response to water scarcity and climate change. By making greater use of rainfall during autumn and winter, known as green water, the system can reduce irrigation needs while benefiting from a longer growing season and lower exposure to late-season heat.

 

“The area under autumn sugar beet cultivation is expected to reach 50,000 hectares, with yields projected to increase by 22–28% under changing climatic conditions.”

 

Iranian researchers are also developing alternative natural sweeteners, including stevia and chicory, to diversify the country’s sweetener industry. The overall strategy aims to improve water productivity, reduce agricultural losses and strengthen Iran’s long-term sugar self-sufficiency, he said.