Azad University Marked Biodiversity Day by promotion of Agricultural Biodiversity and Healthy Food

On the occasion of International Day for Biological Diversity, the Science and Research Unit of Islamic Azad University in Tehran, held a seminar on “Agricultural Biodiversity, Healthy Food Production, Healthy Community” at the University’s campus in north-eastern Tehran on 22 May 2018, AVA Diplomatic reports.

The permaculture garden and greenhouse of the University hosted a large number of government officials, policy makers, managers, experts, university professors and students, agricultural researchers, healthy food producers as well as non-governmental organizations (NGO) representatives who discussed the importance of producing healthy and organic foods.

The ceremony began by UN Information Centre (UNIC) Director Dr. Maria Dotsenko, who greeted the participants and thanked them for their efforts to promote biodiversity and sustainable and responsible agriculture.  She also read the message of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the occasion of International Day for Biological Diversity 2018.

Then, Managing Director of Environment and Healthy Food Department of Ministry of Agricultural Jihad, Dr. Saeid Saadat told the audience that annually some 100 tons of agricultural products are being produced in Iran of which up to 15 to 30 percent are being wasted.

He said Permaculture is a way for producing safe, quality and inexpensive food products and at the same time preserving water and soil resources.

Advisor to the Head of Plant Preservation Organization of Iran Mohsen Asaar told the participants that one of the problems we have in protecting plants in Iran is that we start to react and begin cure after the outbreak of pest or disease.

Deputy Dean of Faculty of Agricultural Science and Food Industries of Science and Research Unit of Islamic Azad University in Tehran, Dr. Ali Mohammadi Torkashvand said Azad University has the only academic Permaculture Garden in Iran.

Azad University Professor and manager of the Permaculture garden Dr. Javad Razmi said that along with development of agriculture, we must protect biodiversity and all living creatures on earth.

Expert on permaculture Mr. Bozorgmehr Kasravi spoke about importance of promotion of permaculture and sustainable agriculture.  He also explained how there is an urgent need for permaculture methods to be adopted by small Iranian farmers in order to drought-proof their farms, enrich their soils, as well as increase yields and crop diversity.

At the end of the ceremony, all participants toured the Permaculture Garden which shows to the students how to produce healthy and organic agricultural products. UN promotional materials in Persian were distributed to the participants.