Matthew King Food and Nutrition Scott Alves Brown May 5, 2021 Technology The agro tech world is always in constant motion. However, much of that advancement has not reached saffron crops. Over 90% of the world's saffron production occurs in Iran and relies on traditional farming techniques carried out by underpaid and exploited work forces. Until now. According to a report originally released by SEEDO Corp, one of their subsidiaries, Saffron Tech, has successfully been able to grow the saffron crocus indoors using vertical farming techniques (“Seedo Corp”). The report is very brief and is based on forward looking statements, but SEEDO is researching growing technology to produce saffron year round. Saffron is currently only harvested one time a year due to the climate and growing season. It’s also only able to grow in a few places around the world. Iran’s climate and soil conditions are ideal for the saffron crocus and therefore able to produce some of the highest quality. Other countries are unable to compete in both quantity and quality. Vertical farming techniques, although expensive operations, could hypothetically be made available for use by other countries in any climate. If what Seedo Corp claims is true, it would revolutionize and make major waves in the saffron industry. According to another report released by SEEDO, “The company recently entered an agreement with ARO Volcani Center, Israel’s largest and most prestigious agricultural research center” (“Seedo Corp”). This research agreement gives SEEDO’s statements some weight. But, it is still important to recognize the limited amount of information released on this
subject. In all fairness, these reports are furthest dated back to late January of 2021 (“SEEDO Corp”). These developments are very recent and most likely in their early stages. It could be years before concrete evidence is released and or a product of these efforts is offered by SEEDO. I don’t believe this technology will make Iranian saffron obsolete, but it could hypothetically reduce Iran's global market dominance on saffron production. The degree to which this will occur is dependent on whether or not the quality level of vertically farmed saffron will compare to Iranian saffron. If the quality of saffron produced is comparable to Iranian saffron, we could potentially see mass production of high quality saffron coming from major consuming countries. This scenario would be far from ideal for Iranian growers and traders. Another point that may arise as this technology is being developed is whether it will become politically weaponized as part of ongoing proxy wars between Israel and Iran. SEEDO is an Israeli based company and this technology could potentially threaten the Iranian agricultural economy. Iran’s economy would not be brought to a halt by widespread implementation of SEEDO’s technology due to their excess in crude oil exports, but it's an industry that they are known for practically monopolizing. If Israel were to be the country to break Iran’s monopolization of saffron production, that would be a major political blow. Moving away from pure speculation, there are some interesting studies occurring which investigate the medical benefits of saffron and are showing some promising results. Saffron has been proven to show anti-cancer properties. “In a recent study performed on hamsters that were treated with the carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), oral administration of saffron at a dose of 100 mg/kg b.w./day, one week before the exposure to the carcinogen, completely prevented the formation of oral squamous cell carcinomas” (Lambrianidou). There has not been much human testing, but initial trials show that it is at least worth investigating. The
medicinal benefits are not only limited to its anti-cancer properties though. Although that alone is enough to garner the interest of the medical community. There have also been studies done which demonstrate the spice’s “beneficial effects against numerous diseases, such as diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, cognitive problems, depression, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, digestive diseases, and cardiovascular inflammations.” If there was a boom in the medicinal interest of saffron. The already short supply of high quality saffron would be stretched even shorter. If saffron was approved as an anti cancer drug it would become exceedingly scarce in the culinary community and probably only available at shockingly more exorbitant pricing than already demonstrated. SEEDO’s technology could benefit this medical interest. Labs could grow their own saffron for research and the technology would also assist in increasing supply. Meanwhile, in India saffron production is facing failure due to climate change. “Kashmir, despite being one of the oldest historical saffron-producing areas, faces a rapid decline of saffron industry”(Husaini, A). Saffron already grows in a micro climate, and as there are shifts in regional weather due to climate change, this drastically alters the level of success saffron producers see (Husaini, A). The technology proposed by SEEDO could potentially mitigate these effects. However, the technology would also allow saffron to be grown pretty much anywhere that can financially support indoor growing operations. Like stated before, this could mean large mass production operations could start up in major saffron consuming/importing countries. Countries like Iran have a long standing history in saffron cultivation and trade as well as the ideal climate to continue its production. Unless climate change drastically affects growing conditions in Iran, then their operations will most likely survive. The real victims of this technology will be countries with small stakes and struggling saffron farming operations.
The Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine had this to say about their production capabilities in comparison to other countries. “The leading saffron growing countries like Iran, Spain and Greece with intensive production technologies are able to achieve higher production and productivity than our productivity and pose a great threat to our saffron industry as imports are increasing every year” (“Saffron Production”). A new technology like this could essentially wipe out Indian saffron production. Overall, between the medical advances and SEEDO’s new found growing capabilities of saffron, we are likely to see a booming interest in the trade in the coming years. Iran has a long standing relationship with the cultivation of quality saffron and therefore its industry is likely to continue to prosper for some time. India is on the other side of that coin. Despite India being one of the larger saffron producers in the world, its market share is tiny compared to Iran and its industry is suffering from climate change. Unless changes are made, the Indian saffron industry will be wiped out when saffron cultivation advances into a new era of agro technological revolution.
Citations Husaini, A. (2014). Challenges of climate change: Omics-based biology of saffron plants and organic agricultural biotechnology for sustainable saffron production. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5033185/ Kheirabadi, M., Azizi, M., Taghizadeh, S., & Fujii, Y. (2020, December 5). Recent advances in Saffron SOIL Remediation: Activated carbon AND Zeolites effects ON Allelopathic Potential. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7761994/ Lambrianidou, A., Koutsougianni, F., Papapostolou, I., & Dimas, K. (2020, December 27). Recent advances on the anticancer properties of saffron (crocus sativus l.) and its major constituents. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7794691/ Saffron production. (2021, January 01). Retrieved from https://iiim.res.in/saffron-production/ Seedo Corp. (2021, January 28). Israeli groundbreaking technology by Saffron tech Challenges IRANIAN 1,000-year monopoly on the LUCRATIVE $1B Saffron Market. Retrieved from https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/01/28/2166167/0/en/Israeli-Groundbre aking-Technology-by-Saffron-Tech-Challenges-Iranian-1-000-Year-Monopoly-on-the-Lucr ative-1B-Saffron-Market.html