Iranian Agro Mission Strengthens French Ties

EghtesadOnline: An Iranian delegation headed by Agriculture Minister Mahmoud Hojjati visited Sommet de l’Elevage (livestock summit in French), Europe’s number one livestock show in France over the weekend. (Iranian weekend is on Thursday and Friday.)

News ID: ۷۷۹۵۷۲

07 October 2017

The event annually welcomes professionals of the farming sector. During the show, agriculture-relevant announcements or new farm policies are made known, IRNA reported.

Held over three days, Sommet de l’Elevage offers a wide-ranging program of farm visits, professional events, practical demonstrations and conferences dealing with agricultural issues.

This year, Iran was invited to attend the show as the country of honor. The 2017 edition of the event opened on October 4 and concluded yesterday, Financial Tribune reported.

On the sidelines of the event, Hojjati met his French counterpart, Stéphane Travert. The two officials held talks on strengthening mutual cooperation in the fields of agriculture and livestock.

Their talks focused on transfer of new agriculture technologies, research on herbal plants and seed, plant modification and investment in Iran’s agricultural sectors, such as aquaculture, processing and dairy.

Iran and France signed several agreements during President Hassan Rouhani’s visit to Paris last year.

Among the deals was one related to construction of modern greenhouses, which was signed by Iran’s Kowsar Agricultural Investment Company and France’s Richel Serres (Golden Group).

In the first phase of the contract, a number of hi-tech greenhouses are to be established on 25 hectares of land in Kermanshah to grow tomatoes over two years. The French side has guaranteed to export the products of these greenhouses.

The first phase of the contract is estimated to cost €20 million. In the second phase, these greenhouses will expand to 50 hectares to grow tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, squash and other vegetables.

Three agreements were also signed by Iran Food Industries Federations and French Federation of International Exchanges Development and Food Processing Techniques (known by its French acronym ADEPTA), including one on joint production of autogenous vaccine in Iran in cooperation with France’s Biovac and another on production of fish eggs and technology transfer between France’s Aqualande and Iran Fisheries Organization.

The fish eggs project will pave the way for technology transfer in aquaculture industry.

Iran’s Hormoz Dam Company and Crusta’C and Du Ble Au Soleil SASU companies from France signed a contract worth $20 million in Tehran in July for the joint production and export of 1,000 tons of shrimp annually.

The required technology at each step of the production process is to be transferred by the French companies to the Iranian party. These include the latest shrimp farming methods, the know-how of producing larvae with the highest productivity, feeding instructions and the most efficient ways of processing and packaging.

The two sides have agreed in the contract to form a joint holding called Crustapars and carry out shrimp production and export under the same brand.