Pesticide Research Department is one of the primary and pivotal departments of Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection (IRIPP) right from the establishment of the institute back in 1948 as the pesticides Unit. Later on in the year 1957 it changed into Agricultural pesticides Research Unit. In the year 1963 when the Pests and Diseases Research Institute was officially established in the present location the department was renamed as Therapeutics Department. Finally when the new organizational chart was formed the name of the department was changed to Pesticides research Department in 1978 and untill date it has remained the same.  This department utilizes a multi-disciplinary approach to conduct fundamental and applied research on agrochemicals and is considered as a leading department performing specific research on pesticides in Iran. The department consists of five major laboratories.

There are 8 scientists, 2 experts, 4 technicians and 2 services personnel working at this department. In accordance with the national programs on food safety and security Pesticides Research Department pursues the following research objectives:

1- Policy making, planning and conducting research on pesticides at the national level

2- Optimization and development of modern and recent extraction methods for pesticide residue analysis

3- Investigation on the novel and modern extraction and multi-residue analysis of pesticide residue in the agricultural crops and the environment

4- Investigation on and monitoring the fate of pesticide residue in the environment (Water, Soil and agricultural produces)

5- Research on the synthesis and formulation of Agrochemicals

6- Pesticides risk assessment

7- Establishment of the Maximum Residue Levels of various registered pesticides (MRLs)

8- Performing research on the pesticide formulation and its ingredients for the improvement of pesticide quality.

9- Preparation of pesticide specifications for quality and quantity control.

10- Identification, synthesis and formulation of insect semiochemicals (pheromone, attractants and repellants)

11- Evaluation of different pesticide application techniques with the aim of introduction of the best spraying method.

12- Focal point of the pesticide residue committee of national codex alimentarius commission.

13- Research on identification, extraction and purification of botanical pesticides active ingredients

14- Research on biochemical and molecular mechanisms of insecticide resistance in pests

15- Research on the bioassay of pesticides to evaluate their efficacy and resistance in pests

16- International and national cooperation on food safety

The department consists of five major laboratories which are introduced as follows:

1) Pesticides residue research lab.

2) Semiochemicals synthesis and formulation research lab.

3) Pesticides bioassay and application techniques research lab.

4) Pesticides formulation research lab.

5) Botanical pesticides research lab.

6) Instrumental and analytical lab.

1) Tasks and objectives of  Pesticides residue research lab. :

- Determination of Maximum Residue Limits of pesticides  in agricultural crops.

- Determination of pesticides preharvest intervals (PHI).

- Research on monitoring of pesticides residue and their metabolites in agricultural crops and the environment.

- Development and optimization of extraction and analytical methods of pesticides residue in agricultural crops, water and soil.

- pesticides residue analysis with GC/NPD, GC/ECD HPLC, GC/MS, LC/MS/MS

- Training workshops on extraction and pesticides residue analysis.

2) Tasks and objectives of  Pesticides bioassay and application techniques research lab.

- Evaluation of different application techniques with the aim of introduction of the best spraying method

- Research on biochemical and molecular mechanisms of insecticides resistance in the pests

- Research on biological activity of pesticides using different bioassay techniques

- Research on the evaluation of the efficacy of pesticides and semiochemicals and the effective factors on them

- Identification and introduction of the most effective pesticides on specific pests

- Research on the optimization and reduction of pesticides use in the agricultural environment

3) Tasks and objectives of  Semiochemicals synthesis and formulation research lab.

- Research on synthesis of insect semiochemicals (pheromone, attractants and repellants)

- Research on formulation of semiochemicals

- Research on production and commercialization of semiochemicals

- Establishment of semiochemicals quality and quantity control criterion

4) Tasks and objectives of  Pesticide formulation lab.

- Research on the preparation of appropriate pesticide formulations.

- Research on development of  the  project results of pesticide formulation.

- Research on the improvement of the quality of pesticide formulation so as to optimize their efficacy.

- Preparation of pesticide specifications for the quality and quantity control 

5) Tasks and objectives of  Botanical pesticides research lab.

- Research on the identification, extraction and purification of botanical pesticides active ingredients

- Research on the development of suitable formulation from botanical pesticides active ingredients.

1- Preparation of pesticides research strategic plan

2- Establishment and introduction of the National Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for all of the locally registered pesticides for the first time in the country

3- Tracing and detection of pesticides residue on agricultural produces and environment, eg. Cucumber, tomato, strawberry, apple, lettuce, banana, milk, egg and some of the rivers in the country.

4- Synthesis of more than 30 insect pheromones some of which are formulated and being used in the fields.

5- Development of Azadirachtin EC formulation and microcapsule formulation of deltamethrin.

6- Quality control and recycling of some of the expired pesticides stored in Agricultural Supportive Services Company with possible efficacy

7- Introduction of some appropriate pesticide application techniques for some crops.

1. Optimization and development of novel and modern extracting and analysis of pesticide residue

2. Multi-residue extraction and analysis of pesticides residue

3. Tracing of the pesticides fate in the environment (Water, Soil and agricultural crops)

4. Risk assessment of the pesticides

5. Establishment of Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs)

1-  Identification, synthesis and formulation of insect semiochemicals (pheromone, attractants and repellants)

2- Identification, extraction and purification of natural pesticides active ingredients in order to reduce their dosages

6. Evaluation of different pesticide application technologies with the aim of introduction of the best spraying method

7. Establishment of  the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of insecticide resistance in pests

8. Training courses on modern extraction methods for pesticide residue analysis

9. Training courses on pesticide analysis using various instruments like GC/NPD, GC/ECD, HPLC, GC/MS and LC/MS/MS

10. Training workshops on statistical and quality control methods in analytical chemistry

11. Training workshops on the use of metabolomics in tracing of pesticide metabolites

12. Extraction and measurement of protein levels by electrophoresis and conduction of workshops on this topic

13. Extraction and measurement of the enzyme activity and identification of the iso-emzymes and conduction of training workshops on them

14. Measurement of various biochemical Macro-molecules (Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins) and chemical molecules (Phenols and active oxygen species) involved in various biological mechanisms

15. Training workshops on various ELISA and blotting (Dot, Western, Northern and Southern blotting) techniques

16. Extraction, measurement and electrophoresis of DNA and RNA, PCR and RT-PCR, and conducting training workshops on Microarray (Transcriptomics)