Grain Inspection in Wartime: Safeguarding Food Security and Supply Chains
In an interview with Negashteh Magazine, Ms. Marjan Ranjbar, Grain Project Manager at Iran Standard & Quality Inspection Company, explained that during wartime or major crises, the top priority in grain inspection is protecting consumer safety while keeping supply chains operational.
According to her, inspection procedures become more flexible under emergency conditions, with less critical tests reduced or postponed so that essential food shipments can continue moving without major disruption.
Ms. Ranjbar says portable technologies and rapid field-testing tools become crucial when access to central laboratories is limited. Grain quality assessments are then carried out through a combination of visual inspections, quick contamination tests, and risk-based sampling depending on transportation conditions and possible damage.
She stresses that while damaged packaging alone may not lead to rejection, any sign of contamination, excess moisture, or physical deterioration in the grain itself is treated as a serious food-safety risk. She also highlights the operational challenges faced by inspection teams working near conflict zones.
Safety-focused protocols — including shorter operations, safer sampling locations, visual documentation, and smaller mobile teams — are designed to protect personnel while maintaining quality control standards. Ranjbar concludes that in rapidly changing crisis environments, continuous coordination with regulators and fast adaptation to international standards are essential to preventing disruptions in global food supply chains.
