Iran to Develop Value Chain of Medicinal Plants Technology in Northern Province

“By drawing a roadmap for the development of the ecosystem of technology and innovation, supporting and guiding research and activists in this field, and linking knowledge with industry and the market, the value chain of medicinal plant technology can be developed,” said Damoun Razmjouyee during the trip to Qazvin province.

“The Headquarters also supports the application of research and market development in this field,” he underlined.

“Establishing close ties between universities, industry, and the market in the field of medicinal plants, forming working groups and brainstorming meetings, and constructive interaction with activists in this industry can pave the way for the development of technology, innovation, and increasing the share of knowledge-based products of medicinal plants in the country's economy,” Razmjouyee said.

Figures in 2023 showed that Iran had exported more than $660 million worth of herbal medicine in recent years.

As a vast country with different climates, Iran is a suitable place for planting and growing different types of herbs, a report by the Vice-Presidency for Science and Technology says, adding that as statistics show currently, about 90% of medicinal herbs are grown inside the country.

Despite the fact that growing herbs can generate a lot of revenues for Iran, the country’s share of exports of these herbal medicines in the global market is not good at all.

Available official reports indicate that the value of exports of medicinal herbs and herbal medicines in 2012 was about $350 million while the figure has reached more than $ 660 million in recent years. The total value of exports excluding saffron is estimated to have reached at $370 million.

According to the report, the Vice-Presidency for Science and Technology’s Department for Development of Herbal Medicine and Traditional Medicine has made necessary planning to expand scientific and technological cooperation at the international level and provide more opportunities for exporting more herbal medicines to other countries.

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By: Mohammad Jafari