Iran Exports 5 Billions US Dollars of Food Products in 1 Year
Shaqayeq Haqjuy-e Jovanmard, the head of the Strategic Technologies Development Center at the Iranian Vice Presidency of Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy made the remarks while addressing a conference about the ways how the vice presidency helps to boost research and development in the field of agrifood products in the country.
She said that one of the ways that the vice presidency has adopted to boost the knowledge-based economy in Iran is to help set up specialized laboratories for industries (fabrication lab) to assist them in their production, testing and standardization.
The official added that the food industry in the country ranks second only after the petrochemical industry in terms of the largest capital turnover and generating opportunities for creating jobs with 17% portion of the total GDP. “Also, food security is an issue of global importance. Therefore, one of our priorities is to set up a fab lab specialized in the food industry. We identify potential and capabilities and invest on them as the focus of the activities.”
Haqjuy-e Jovanmard went on to say that an event will be held in May in the Northeastern city of Mashahd to showcase a sample of fab lab by the name “Sharing the needs and innovative ideas of the food industry in the fast manufacturing laboratory (FabLab)” in order to identify the manufacturing, production, testing and standardization capabilities in the country and share them with everyone.”
According to a definition available online on the Internet, the FabLab is a digital Fabrication Laboratory that facilitates the development of digital skills in various domains including architecture, construction, design, interaction, and creativity. This facility actively engages with students, lecturers, researchers, companies, organizations, and citizens to promote the Open Innovation model through the utilization of digital technologies.
“After oil and petrochemical industries, the food industry has the largest share in the GDP. According to the statistics in 1401, we exported more than five billion dollars worth of food products, which shows the economic importance of the industry,” she concluded.
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