Launch of Vastra’s national mission in cage fish farming
Launch of Vastra’s National Mission as the Driver of the Cage-Aquaculture Value Chain
Within the framework of implementing the resolution of the Steering Council for Technologies and Knowledge-Based Production and in line with fulfilling the pledge of the Vice-Presidency for Science, Technology, and the Knowledge-Based Economy the knowledge-based company Pasargad Smart Health Industries Technology Vastra has been selected, for a three-year term, as the driver of the national value chain for cage fish farming.
This achievement stems from the path Vastra began over the past two years by executing a comprehensive development program for cage aquaculture and undertaking foundational investments. In this regard, Vastra has invested in Ramooz and, in cooperation with international partners, has worked to expand fingerling production infrastructure and advance practical measures for the integrated management of the industry’s value chain.
Under this program, Vastra acting as an industry-enabling partner aims to increase national production capacity up to fivefold within three years by diffusing knowledge and technology across the value-chain links while simultaneously leveraging financial, banking, and smart investment capacities. The plan covers the development of key chain segments from broodstock development through to export, alongside close collaboration with knowledge-based companies to deliver the technologies the industry requires.
In its role as the value-chain driver, Vastra is responsible for tasks such as drafting the technology development roadmap, managing the value chain in an integrated manner, facilitating working capital and input supply through contract farming, and identifying and defining technological needs. Along this path, at least ten knowledge-based companies active in areas such as broodstock development, specialized feed, smart farm-management systems, processing, and marine biotechnology will be supported as key partners in the value chain.
Vastra’s approach to managing value chains in the agricultural sector can be a key to solving the country’s food-security challenge. The government now recognizes the importance of leading actors as its strategic partners for technology development and value-chain completion, and is working to create national synergy by identifying and engaging these players. Companies like Vastra, which pursue innovative pathways within value chains, can act as primary industry catalysts and, by fully leveraging the capacity of knowledge-based firms, resolve the chain’s bottleneck needs. This synergy among the government, the lead driver, and knowledge-based companies not only accelerates technological development but also strengthens the country’s competitive position in domestic and global markets.
Hamid Zolfaghari, CEO of Vastra, said:
“The launch of this national mission for Vastra is not only the start of a major project, but the beginning of a new chapter of responsibility, innovation, and our commitment to the country’s future. We regard this selection as both a national honor and a weighty responsibility one that demands coordinated effort, meticulous planning, and the effective deployment of scientific and technological capacities alongside complementary financial instruments. Relying on cutting-edge know-how, hard-won experience in value-chain management, smart investment, and broad collaboration with key industry players, Vastra will pave the way for Iran to attain a worthy standing in the global blue economy. We believe that through the development of advanced technologies, productivity gains, waste reduction, and the creation of a strong national brand, we can make a lasting, meaningful contribution to food security and the flourishing of the national economy.”
This national mission is being advanced in cooperation with the Vice-Presidency for Science, Technology, and the Knowledge-Based Economy, the Ministry of Agriculture-Jihad, and other relevant bodies. It is anticipated that over the next five years, a substantial share of the country’s demand for marine protein will be met through cage aquaculture, and exports of fishery products will rise significantly.