Grain Processing Plants Become Frontline Defenders of Food Security
Mr. Seyed Mohammadtaghi Naghavi, Chairman of the Azem Group (active in the field of grain refinery), says food security has become a core pillar of national stability during war, sanctions, and logistical disruptions, placing grain-processing industries at the center of economic resilience.
According to Naghavi, these industries directly and indirectly support more than 60% of Iran’s food and industrial supply chain, making them strategically critical during periods of crisis.
He warned that simultaneous pressure from sanctions, currency volatility, and soaring transportation costs has exposed Iran’s food supply chain to severe vulnerabilities. Naghavi argued that resilience depends on diversifying suppliers, expanding storage infrastructure, and investing in production technology — measures that could significantly reduce import dependence while preventing production shutdowns during disruptions.
Mr. Naghavi also emphasized the government’s role in maintaining industrial stability through easier access to foreign currency, special credit lines, and support for upstream industries. Looking beyond the conflict, he said Iran could leverage neighboring markets with a combined population of more than 400 million people to transform its food and grain-processing sector into a major regional export player worth several billion dollars annually.
