Once in a while, a story comes across my desk that provokes serious thought. 

Those of you farming with conservation in mind can be thankful that, in spite of a very difficult year, you’ve likely built up some wealth in healthy soils that are efficient and productive. Or at least you’re working on it.

Without healthy soil it’s very difficult to raise a crop. But in Iran, and that’s exactly what is happening. Hadi Asadi-Rahmani, head of the Soil & Water Research Institute of Iran, said at a recent World Soil Day conference that years of drought, inefficient water use and poor fertilizer use are putting the country’s food security at risk.

Only a quarter of Iran’s 407 million acres of land, only about 15% is arable. Some 75% of Iran’s soils have less than 1% organic carbon and 75,000 acres are degrading each year, he says. 

Nationwide rainfall has dropped to about 18% of typical levels. Experts blame decades of over-extraction, unchecked urban growth and placing water-hungry industries in the desert — alongside drier weather — for pushing groundwater sources and lakes to the brink. 

“We all know Iran’s soil is growing poorer, and without urgent action, the future of food production will face serious risk,” Asadi-Rahmani added. 

This scenario is not only scary but somewhat reminiscent of what we’ve seen in parts of the Southern Plains with the rapid drawdown and over-use of the Ogallala aquifer, which is putting farm operations at risk.

There is progress being made in Iran. In 2023, No-Till Farmer quoted Dr. Mohammad Esmaeil Asadi, an independent conservation ag (CA) researcher, as stating about 740,000 acres of CA was in practice in Iran. “CA offers the best soil moisture management strategy for dryland agriculture in Iran. The area using CA in Iran has been increasing throughout the country with the cooperation of more farmers,” said Asadi.

Iran’s Ministry of Agriculture said at the time it is currently investing in sustainable solutions to agriculture with the goal of increasing self-reliance for major agricultural commodities, including wheat, in the next 5-10 years. The plan includes the goal of spreading conservation agriculture-based crop management practices across more than 7 million acres, including 60% rain-fed and 40% irrigated farmland. 

“This is a good start, but if Iran wants to mitigate its water crisis, adapt to new climates, and be resilient against other political and environmental shocks, it will need to continue to invest in conservation agriculture cropping systems and other sustainable strategies,” Asadi said.

Iran has been a bitter political enemy of the U.S. for decades and that’s not likely changing soon. Some world leaders want a more stable situation in the Middle East, but having a nation of 90 million unable to feed itself doesn’t encourage stability.

In many foreign nations, governments exude important influence on agricultural practices. Perhaps it’s time for the world community to lean on Iran a little harder to not only improve its political relations with the world but encourage conservation farming methods as well. Time is of the essence.

Related Content: Improving Iran's Dryland Productivity with No-Till