IPM was first proposed in 1957, as a concept that promoted biological control, good agronomic practices and the use of other means to control pests besides chemical pesticides. IPM is location specific, based on local field ecology and socio-economic conditions. IPM in the Iranian programme meant more than just “pest control”, since it was extended to the larger scope of sustainable farm management. IPM is based on four practical principles: (i) grow a healthy crop; (ii) conserve natural enemies; (iii) observe fields regularly; and (iv) farmers become experts.

In Iran, an IPM Group was organized in 2009 as an informal group with the initial aim of supplying IPM products directly to clients. The IPM group, about 500 people, comprised of IPM/FFS veteran farmers and facilitators, consumers and NGO activists, promote food safety and sustainable agriculture while improving market access for their differentiated products.IPM is nowadays an integral part of research and extension programme in Iran. About 7 000 farmers have been trained under IPM projects, on 200 000 ha and with 14 different crops. About 20 farmers with 30 crops are working more or less with the IPM Group. After a decade of IPM implementation in Iran, IPM has been successful in providing a model of crop production and protection management in accordance with local socio-economic structures for smallholder crop production systems.