Knowledge Serving Community Needs: Lorestan University and the Agricultural Research Center of the Province Sign a Cooperation Agreement
May 25, 2026
In line with scientific endeavors in the agricultural sector of Lorestan (from farm to laboratory), a strategic memorandum of understanding was signed and exchanged between the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of Lorestan Province and the University of Lorestan; collaborations that aim to direct student theses towards the tangible needs of the province and to expedite the dissemination of scientific findings to farmers and stakeholders.
According to the Public Relations of the Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), quoting the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of Lorestan Province, a joint meeting was held with the aim of addressing fundamental issues in the agricultural and natural resources sector of the province and strengthening the research-to-farm chain. The meeting was attended by Dr. Farhad Nazarian-Firouzabadi (President of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Lorestan), Dr. Hamed Naghavi (President of the Faculty of Natural Resources), Dr. Mostafa Darvishnia (Vice President of Research, Faculty of Agriculture), Dr. Mohammad Shahverdi (President of the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of Lorestan Province), Dr. Reza Chaman-Pira (Vice President of Research of the Center), and a group of faculty members from both sides. The joint cooperation memorandum was signed at the office of the Center's President.
Main Pillars of the Memorandum:
Based on this memorandum, both parties emphasized the implementation of joint applied research projects, the optimal use of equipment, laboratories, research farms, and greenhouses, the definition of problem-oriented theses and dissertations for postgraduate students in line with provincial priorities, planning for joint national and provincial research projects, the organization of training workshops and field days to transfer findings to stakeholders, and assistance in scientific decision-making for the management of water, soil, forests, and rangelands in the province.
Emphasis by the President of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Lorestan, on Scientific Synergy for Solving Complex Agricultural Challenges
Dr. Farhad Nazarian-Firouzabadi, President of the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Lorestan, emphasized that scientific synergy is the only way to address the complex challenges of the agricultural sector, stating: "The Faculty of Agriculture possesses valuable capacity in the area of faculty members, laboratory infrastructure, and postgraduate students, which, alongside the field experience of the Research Center, provides the basis for defining projects from the idea stage to transfer to the farm. Our main goal is to guide theses towards the real issues of the province's farms and livestock farms."
The Necessity of Forming Joint Research Teams
Dr. Mostafa Darvishnia, Vice President of Research at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Lorestan, referring to the necessity of teamwork and the end of isolated research, noted: "This memorandum provides a suitable platform for the formation of joint research teams between the university and the Research Center so that we can pursue large-scale, interdisciplinary, and problem-oriented projects for challenges such as water scarcity, soil erosion, and climate change at the provincial and national levels."
Utilizing the Excellent Scientific Capacity of the University of Lorestan in New Agricultural Fields
Dr. Mohammad Shahverdi, President of the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of Lorestan Province, expressing his satisfaction with the signing of this memorandum, said: "The Center's mission is to produce technical knowledge and technologies that can be transferred to stakeholders. Cooperation with the University of Lorestan enables the use of the excellent scientific capacity of this university in new agricultural fields."
Dr. Shahverdi added: "We are ready to provide the Center's research infrastructure, including farms, stations, greenhouses, and a network of experts, in exchange for benefiting from the specialized expertise of faculty members in designing and implementing research. A significant part of this memorandum is also dedicated to holding workshops and field days to transfer results in a practical language to farmers."
What is the Outlook for Cooperation?
At the end of the meeting, the parties emphasized the development of a time-bound implementation plan with the designation of a joint working group.
It was approved that priority research areas in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, plant protection, soil and water, livestock and poultry, forests and rangelands, watershed management, and the environment should be jointly identified, and specific projects should be defined for each area.
The attendees expressed hope that with the implementation of this memorandum, a successful model of cooperation between the university and research centers will be presented at the national level, and its achievements will be visibly apparent to the community in terms of improving productivity, sustainable agricultural development, and the preservation of natural resources in Lorestan Province.
Source of the news text:
1_ Website of the Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization of the country.
2_ University of Lorestan's Department of Communication with Society and Industry.
