Biofarm

Biofarm Research and Development Center

Mohammad Mehdi NaderiCEO

Abolfazl ShiraziTechnical Officer

About

The high production costs of each unit of milk and meat are common complaints among livestock producers. In recent decades, however, advanced countries have been able to reduce production costs by 20-30% through the use of "breeding premium cattle using laboratory production of embryos." Considering the need to establish a specialized center in the field of Modern Reproductive Technologies for Cattle Breeding consisting of specialized and experienced human resources, the Biofarm Center was established in 2017. For the first time in the country, the Biofarm Center has produced premium dairy, dual-purpose, and meat breeds of cows, with the aim of improving the productivity of livestock production.

The most important activities of Biopharm Center

Localization and commercialization of the technology of in vitro production of embryos using the technique of "transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte aspiration"
Establishing an embryo bank of the top five breeds of cattle including Jersey, Simmental, Charolais, Limousin, and Aquitaine
Establishment of an embryo bank of domestic and Italian premium buffaloes
Obtaining the first and only "License for Laboratory Production of Embryos" in the country
Conclusion of the product sales contract with the country's large animal husbandry holdings, including the Executive Headquarters of Imam's Directive, Astan Quds Razavi, Kausar, and the private sector
Production and sale of male calves with superior genetic characteristics required by semen processing laboratories
Registration of patents for two inventions and ranking in four national and international festivals in the field of business plan
The establishment of a knowledge-based company affiliated to Avicenna Research Institute in 2020 with the aim of developing activities of the Biofarm

Future prospects

The achievement in increasing the food security index value in "meat" and "butter" production due to the creation of pure herds of premium meat and dairy breeds for the first time in the country
Establishment of the first and largest center for the production of genetically superior calves in the country
The establishment of the first center for the export of premium embryos of different breeds to the countries of the region
Increasing the population and breeding of indigenous Iranian cattle in danger of extinction
Commercialization of laboratory production of embryos from camels with desirable genetic characteristics
Commercialization of “frozen sperm” production as well as “laboratory embryo production” in premium horses

Other capabilities of Biofarm Center

Using simulation and modelling techniques in farm animals
Vitrification, freezing of reproductive cells, oocytes, sperm, embryos, stem cells, testicular and ovarian tissue in farm animals
Manipulation of germ cells and embryos, including embryo biopsy, embryonic stem cells (ESCs) research, nuclear, and cytoplasmic transfer

The main area of activity

The research farm of Avicenna Research Institute (ARI) began its activities in November 2016 as a “The center with specialized services for reproductive biotechnology in animals”. The center is located on a 25,000 square meter site with 1,500 square meters of infrastructure, situated within the Alborz Science and Technology Park. The center's primary focus is on reproductive biotechnology, with the aim of applying and commercializing some of the research accomplishments from the Embryology and Andrology Group at Avicenna Research Institute (ARI). The key activities of this center include:

Establishing a bank of germ cells and embryos from animals with desirable genetic characteristics. This is done with the goal of improving animal breed and its positive outcomes, such as improved production efficiency, enhanced resistance to environmental stressors and diseases, as well as the preservation of endangered animal species
Developing and localizing the technical know-how for producing transgenic animals. This is directed towards creating laboratory animal models and other biological products

Center services

The main activity of the center is production and provision of services; as a result, it provides consulting services related to the center's activity. Among the most important specialized services of this center, the following can be mentioned:

Establishing a bank of animal gametes and embryos
Production and breeding of laboratory, livestock, and other animals used in biological research
Production of cloned and genetically modified animal models, biological products derived from animals, animal cell lines derived from embryonic and somatic stem cells, as well as animal and poultry vaccines
Providing specialized reproductive services for enhancing reproductive efficiency in animals
Providing standards and guidelines relevant to the main activities of the center
Engaging in scientific and research collaboration with domestic and international research, academic, and scientific institutions
Cooperating, investing, and collaborating with companies, projects, and production plans through contracting, consulting, service provision, and business ventures. This includes any investment and partnership activities with individuals and legal entities related to the center's scope of work, both domestically and internationally
Holding seminars, conferences, specialized workshops, and training courses related to the center's activity

Future perspectives

Establishing the center as a leading national hub for livestock reproductive biotechnology research and innovation
Becoming a national reference center for genomic embryo production
Serving as a production and distribution hub of sheep semen with high quality for twin pregnancies in Iran
Exporting biotechnology products to neighboring countries and the region
Producing model animals to support research in pharmacology, immunology, tissue transplantation, and related fields

Establishment of a premium bovine embryo bank
Production of high-quality embryos from dairy, beef, and dual-purpose cattle breeds
Large-scale production of gender-selected cattle embryos to replace 1% of artificial insemination with embryo transfer
Improving the quality of in vitro-produced embryos to increase pregnancy rates after transfer
Generating embryos with desirable genetic characteristics (e.g., improved feed efficiency, disease resistance)

Sheep semen production and distribution program

Expanding the diversity of specialized sheep semen to increase twinning, growth rates, and other desirable traits
Providing artificial insemination services for herds

Production of animal models

Generating genetically-engineered mouse models for research in reproduction, pharmacology, immunology, and tissue transplantation

Patent registration

Production of frozen sex-selected bovine embryos
Development of a new biopsy needle for sampling trophectoderm from blastocyst-stage embryos
Production of frozen sheep semen using glass vitrification freezing technology
Development of a 3D culture system for sheep primordial follicles

Awards and research achievements

Acceptance of the company's business plan at the 2015 iBRIDGES in Berlin
Winning the grand prize in the 2015 Inventions Festival
Securing the first-place award in InnoTech Expo 2016
Awarded third place at the 11^th Sheikh-Bahai Technopreneurship Festival

Licenses and approvals

Obtaining the operating license for the first bovine embryo production center in the country
Obtaining product approval from “National Animal Breeding Center and Promotion of Animal Products”

Partnerships and cooperation with public and private organizations

Cooperation agreement with the Central Union of Livestock Breeders of Iran (damdaraniran)
Memorandum of understanding with the Animal Science Research Institute of IRAN (ASRI)