Iran Start-up
People in Iran have been experiencing the effects of climate change for decades. betterSoil founder Azadeh Farajpour grew up in Iran and knows this firsthand. Even in the days of the Persian great kings, when many rivers and rich vegetation characterized the region, magnificent gardens inspired people. The concept of paradise dates back to this time. Due to the personal connections and the historical roots of Persian agriculture, Iran is the perfect starting point for the betterSoil team.
Harsh conditions in Iran create strong need for better soils
The team in Iran
Elaheh is an enthusiastic soil scientist with a keen interested in everything that lives in the soil beneath our feet. Having worked in Germany and Iran she embodies the betterSoil approach of combining scientific knowledge with local experience. Elika has joined the betterSoil team in the field of digital marketing to promote better soils in an international context. For a period of 1.5 years, Azadeh and Tobias visited Iran regularly to conduct a feasibility study on sustainable business models around soil improvement in the Iranian context. Find our more on the feasibility study by clicking the link below.
Feasibility study Iran: soil health business models with compost and biochar production
In a country like Iran, where water scarcity and long dry seasons make agriculture particularly difficult, improving soil health is both a challenge and a necessity. Healthy soils are the foundation of resilient ecosystems, productive farms, and sustainable livelihoods. When soils are improved, the benefits ripple outward - nature recovers, farmers achieve better yields, people gain healthier food, and the climate is positively impacted through increased carbon storage.
Recognizing this urgent need while knowing the benefits of healthy soils, we decided to conduct a feasibility study to practically test and calculate the numbers behind a new product. The "betterSoil Booster" that combines compost and biochar from local sources should turn trash into treasure. We formed a team, collected the raw materials, set up a demo production site, produced 10 tonnes of the betterSoil booster and did the numbers behind it. Our result: A real example for a circular economy with social, economic, climate, water, and biodiversity effects. We found good evidence that such an approach can work and be applied in other regions as well. Read more about our feasibility study following the link below.