November 15, IFIF public relation-Deputy Minister of Agriculture in business Ali Akbar Mehrfard, Secretary General of Federation of Iranian Food Associations Kaveh Zargaran and more than 20 Secretaries and Chairmen of food industry associations attended the meeting organized by Federation of Iranian Food Associations on Saturday and discussed the issues in the field of food industry.

Mehrfard said “Iran has produced 117 million tons of raw agricultural products and livestock this year.  This figure is a significant potential in the food processing industry and production.”

He voiced that “The value of livestock, agricultural and horticultural production of Iran is $ 70 billion per year. Iran still earns the world`s first place in production of pistachios and saffron and four percent of the world's citrus is produced in Iran although only one percent of the world`s population is in Iran.

He continued “That's why I believe that Iran`s food industry has the opportunities to increase production and productivity and coordinating with the agricultural sector and elimination of dealers, production and exports can be improved.”

 Reviewing Olive cultivation, ways of guaranteed purchase wheat and value added tax, supporting producers, offering cheaper tuna for factories, the need for wheat import with high gluten, the government`s consideration to private sector, establishing export portfolio, assisting poultry and livestock feed industry to boost export, revising Agrofood were the grounds that discussed in this meeting.

At the end of the meeting Zargaran called for expanding bilateral ties between Ministry of agriculture and food industry activist. Mehrfard expressed hope to spare no efforts to follow up the issues.