Introduction of Institute

Research activities on plant protection in our country was laid down by the late Jalal Afshar in a small unite by the name of "Pest identification and their control" in 1923. Four years later, the above mentioned unit was transferred to the ministry of public benefits and then was renamed as "Pest Control Agency". In spite of limited possibilities, this agency conducted the first chemical control against locust by applying baits in Damavand area, following the first successful biological control against citrus scale using Rodalia cordinalis in the north part of Iran.

     In the year 1943, the late Afshar founded "Entomology and Pest Control Laboratory" working directly under the supervision of the Agriculture ministry himself. After the second World War, the said lab, was activated by joining a few young graduates and collection, identification and research on insects was accelerated. The foundation of insect museum which is to day one of the greatest in the middle-East was laid down. This museum is now the only formal center of insect identification in the state. Botany section of the noted laboratory was activated by connection of Iranian botanist and mycologist after Dr. Esfandiari and after Mr. Behbood the founder of weed research in Iran. So, the herbarium is one of the world's richest collections was founded during the years 1945-1948. Formal name of this herbarium is Herbarium Ministerii Iranici and its code is Iran.

    With respect to diversity and richness researchers and students from Iran and abroad frequently use the herbarium by working on-site or receiving specimens on-loan. The name of "Entomology Laboratory" was changed to "Pest surveying office" in the year 1949 and renamed as "Plant Pests and Quarantine Surveying Office" in 1957.

    In 1962, according to the approval of the council of ministry the name of "Plant Pests and Diseases Surveying Institute" was specialized and renamed to name as  "Plant Pests and Diseases Research Institute" in June 1963 and transferred to the present location and renamed to current name as "Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection" in 2007.