Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran - Marking a significant milestone in regional cooperation, the Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS) successfully convened its first official event in Iran, the Expert Roundtable and Capacity Exchange on Climate-Smart Livestock Breeding in Organization of Islamic Cooperation ( OIC ) Member States, on 22–23 December 2025 in Tehran. The event was held under the leadership of Ambassador Khusrav Noziri, Assistant Director-General of IOFS, and organized by Program Manager Mr. Bakdaulet Yerkhanov.
The Roundtable brought together senior officials, researchers, and technical experts from across the OIC region to advance collaborative solutions for climate-resilient livestock systems. Delegations from seven OIC Member States – Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan – participated, alongside the Ambassador of the State of Qatar and the representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, reflecting high-level political support for intra-OIC agricultural cooperation.
The sessions featured in-depth exchanges on adaptive breeding, genetic resources, smart management systems, and climate-resilient feed strategies. Experts highlighted the urgent need for science-driven approaches to enhance livestock productivity and sustainability amid climate challenges.
A central diplomatic highlight was the bilateral meeting between Ambassador Noziri and Mr. Golamreza Golmohammadi, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Head of the Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization of Iran (AREEO Tehran-Iran).
The discussions focused on strengthening institutional collaboration, with AREEO expressing strong interest in expanding joint work in agricultural biotechnology, vaccine and serum development, and applied livestock research. Both sides emphasized the importance of translating Iran’s advanced research infrastructure into regionally impactful training and technology transfer programs.
On the second day, the IOFS delegation conducted technical visits to leading Iranian scientific institutions, including the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII), the Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute (RVSRI), and the National Botanical Garden of Iran. These visits showcased Iran’s capabilities in biotech innovation, animal health, and genetic conservation, paving the way for future joint initiatives and capacity-building programs under the IOFS framework.
This inaugural event in Iran marks a foundational step toward a structured IOFS–AREEO cooperation framework, with a shared vision of positioning Iran as a regional hub for climate-smart livestock systems and agricultural innovation in the OIC region.
