Chinese Research Center, Pakistani Food Processor Sign MoU to Develop Industrial Tomato Varieties in Pakistan

The Beijing Jingwa Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Center (Jingwa Center) and Pakistan’s Iftekhar Ahmed Food & Beverages Pvt. Ltd. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop and introduce high-quality tomato varieties tailored for industrial processing in Pakistan.

The agreement was signed during the Pakistan-China Information Technology, Telecom, Battery Energy Storage System, and Agriculture B2B Investment Conference held in Hangzhou as part of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s official visit to China.

The MoU was signed by Waheed Ahmed, Director Marketing of Iftekhar Ahmed Food & Beverages Pvt. Ltd., and Zhao Guodong, Director Business Development of the Jingwa Center.

Under the agreement, the Chinese research institution will provide new tomato varieties specifically selected for industrial use, featuring high Brix levels, strong solids content, and superior pulp yield, making them suitable for the production of high-quality tomato paste and puree.

The collaboration will begin with a research and development phase in Sindh, where six to seven candidate tomato varieties will undergo comprehensive field and greenhouse trials. Chinese and Pakistani experts will jointly evaluate the varieties for adaptability to local climatic conditions, soil characteristics, cultivation practices, and disease pressures.

In addition to supplying seed varieties, the Jingwa Center will transfer advanced agricultural technologies, modern cultivation techniques, and technical expertise aimed at improving tomato productivity and quality. The partnership also seeks to promote year-round tomato production through controlled environment agriculture, helping ensure stable yields and consistent quality.

Following successful trials and adaptation, the most suitable varieties will be introduced for commercial cultivation and industrial processing in Pakistan, with continued technical support from the Chinese side.

Commenting on the agreement, Waheed Ahmed, Director Marketing of Iftekhar Ahmed Food & Beverages Pvt. Ltd., said the collaboration with the Chinese research institution would play an important role in promoting research and development in Pakistan’s agriculture sector.

He said the development and local cultivation of suitable industrial tomato varieties would help save foreign exchange currently spent on importing tomato paste, which amounts to approximately $1 million annually. In addition, the initiative is expected to boost Pakistan’s exports of value-added agricultural products.

Waheed Ahmed further stated that the partnership could attract investments of up to $7 million in the local production of industrial tomato varieties. He added that the final selected seed variety would be registered in Pakistan and made available to farmers on a large scale, paving the way for wider adoption and significantly increasing tomato production in the country.

Representatives of both organizations described the agreement as an important step toward strengthening agricultural cooperation between Pakistan and China and modernizing Pakistan’s tomato value chain.

The partnership is expected to support Pakistan’s import substitution efforts, reduce dependence on imported tomato paste, enhance local processing capacity, and contribute to food security through the development of a sustainable and climate-resilient tomato production system in Sindh.

Iftekhar Ahmed Food & Beverages Pvt. Ltd., operating under the 60-year legacy of Iftekhar Ahmed & Co. (IAC), is among Pakistan’s leading fruit and vegetable processing and export companies. The company exports products to more than 30 countries and operates Pakistan’s largest aseptic processing facility for fruit pulps, concentrates, and tomato paste, along with a 35,000-metric-ton cold storage network in Karachi and Sargodha.