The widespread use of pesticides in the country could have significant impact both on sustainable development and people’s health unless a comprehensive program is instituted to promote safe food production, said Serge Nakouzi, FAO Representative in Iran.
In a statement at the 28th Session of the Health and International Cooperation Group of Iran’s Academy of Medical Sciences held recently in Tehran, he pointed to the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach as a globally-accepted mechanism that promotes food safety, Mehr News Agency reported.
“IPM is being mainstreamed in all FAO activities pertaining to crop production and protection and also as part of its advocacy of climate-smart agriculture, less input intensive agricultural methodologies and the safeguarding of natural resources in agricultural practices,” he said.
Iran is one of the pioneer countries in the Middle East and North Africa region which started the implementation of IPM in April 2004. Today, it is applied to more than 14 different crops in Iran.
