TEHRAN – The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS) have signed a letter of agreement (LoA) to strengthen procedures for how saffron is tested, processed, and marketed.

Activities of the LoA will be conducted under the joint Technical Cooperation Program of FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture, the FAO website announced in a press release on September 16.

Known as red gold, this spice is not only important for farmers’ livelihoods but also a symbol of Iran’s agricultural heritage, as Iran produces more than 90 percent of the world’s saffron, making the integrity of the value chain critical for farmers and for national trade.

Saffron’s global trade faces persistent risks from adulteration to inconsistent post-harvest handling that can erode value and weaken consumer trust.

“To address these issues, FAO is collaborating with MUMS to strengthen procedures for how saffron is tested, processed, and marketed.  The collaboration responds to the challenge by combining advanced laboratory verification with field-ready post-harvest guidance to better define saffron’s quality and protect authenticity and reputation,” said Farrukh Toirov, FAO Representative in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

At the core of the work is a scientifically validated fingerprinting approach using high-resolution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance to characterize saffron’s three key constituents (crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal) supported by robust data analysis. This will provide a more precise chemical profile for authenticity checks than routine methods alone. Complementing the lab work, the initiative will develop practical guidance to help preserve colour, flavour, and aroma after harvest so that quality measured in the lab is maintained through to the final consumer.

Equally important, in the framework of this LoA, MUMS will train farmers, traders, and laboratory experts across the main saffron-producing provinces of Khorasan Razavi, North Khorasan, and South Khorasan. This training will help to develop the understanding that everyone involved in the saffron value chain should apply better practices, meet international requirements, and offer buyers around the world a product they can trust.

While international trade commonly references ISO 3632 / 3632-1 for grading saffron, these basic tests do not always capture subtle quality differences or guard against sophisticated adulteration, and they provide limited guidance on post-harvest handling.

By promoting higher quality and stronger safeguards, improved practices and advanced quality control protocols will help to reduce fraud, build consumer trust, and increase transparency in saffron markets. This will create better opportunities and returns for farmers and traders while enhancing Iran’s reputation as the global source of authentic saffron.

This work forms part of FAO’s wider efforts to support Iran in improving food authenticity, strengthening agricultural value chains, and ensuring that local food products are competitive in international markets and adhere to international quality and safety requirements.

In May 2024, FAO signed a project with the Ministry of Agriculture aimed at ensuring access to safe and authentic saffron products.

Titled “Control of Food Authenticity and Management of Food Supply Chain for Successful Achievement of SDGs,” the project was in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), Sustainable Development Goals, and FAO Country Programme Framework (CPF).

The initiative was part of FAO’s Technical Cooperation Program (TCP) and is set to span two years, concluding in December 2025.

The project’s impact will be profound, warranting consumer access to safe and authentic saffron products through the enhanced capacity for immediate response and effective enforcement mechanisms for food quality testing and traceability.

This project represents a significant step towards enhancing transparency and traceability in the saffron industry, ultimately contributing to food security and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.

MT/MG