Soil erosion rate over four times global standard: Minister
Iran’s Agriculture Minister Gholamreza Nouri-Qezeljeh warned that the country’s soil erosion rate is approximately 16.5 tons per hectare annually—more than four times the global standard, stressing that reversing this trend is essential for ensuring food security.
Speaking at the World Soil Day event in Tehran on Saturday, held under the theme of “Caring for Soils: Measure, Monitor, Manage,” the minister highlighted the critical role of soil in food production and emphasized that environmental protection, particularly soil conservation, is included in Iran’s Constitution.
The minister noted that the law on soil protection, passed by Iran’s Parliament in 2019, requires widespread public involvement to succeed. “Public awareness and participation are essential to creating a national commitment to protecting our soil,” he said.
Nouri-Qezeljeh underscored that soil is the foundation of global food security and stated, “There is no alternative to protecting our soil.”
The minister went on to say that a coordination headquarters has been established to ensure the enforcement of the law on soil protection.
Nouri-Qezeljeh said that Iran ranks first worldwide in soil conservation (in terms of education, awareness, and advocacy), thanks to efforts made in recent years as he expressed optimism about future soil conservation measures in the country.
The minister criticized international sanctions for limiting Iran’s access to advanced soil protection technologies, saying, “Sanctions have restricted our access to many of the modern technologies necessary for soil conservation.”