Iranian official calls for more cultivation of GM crops
Translated by: Shiva Bakhtiari-
The head of the Iranian parliaments agriculture committee says Iran needs to invest more in genetically modified crops.
Abbas Rajai complained that right now, the cultivation of GM crops is moving at a very slow pace in the country.
The head of the Iranian parliaments agriculture committeesays Iran needs to invest more in genetically modified crops.
Abbas Rajai complained that right now, the cultivation of GM crops is moving at a very slow pace in the country.
Rajaiwho was speaking on the sidelines of the eighth meeting of Iran’s Veterinary Council said food and water are the two main challenges facing the 21st century.
He said future wars by major powers against developing nations will be to gain control of their food and water supplies. Rajai referred to how some nations are involved in the trade of water and land even today and said such a crisis, highlights the need for new technologies in the agricultural sector more than ever.
The head of Iran’s agricultural commission of the Parliament called on the ministries of health, agriculture and environment to resolve their differences over the use of GM crops and make this issue a priority.
Rajai further referred to figures which show Iran’s population reaching 250 million people in the next 20 years and said these people will need food to survive.
He also stressed that in the year 1404 the per capita protein consumption for each person will be 60 grams per day and this requires a doubling of today’s production levels.
Highlighting the existence of 40 million hectares of desert land in Iran, Rajai added that these uninhabited areas are currently being used by bandits and have no benefits for the nation. But he said, if this land is used for biotech crops and for greenhouse production purposes it could help feed millions of people in the country.
Translated by: Shiva Bakhtiari