Former pilot projects supported mostly supported by international organizations including GEF Small Grants Programme, proved to be effective within their definition territory and in many projects, results lead to empowerment of local communities and developed by them. Although these achievements are not completely institutionalized in governmental bodies, many of projects have been replicated by government sector. IPM cooperative group is one of those community based cooperatives which has been developed in 6 Small Grants Programme supported IPM projects and a project funded by FAO. Notable achievements of this cooperative are so impressive that Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection as the research center and operational body of IPM projects in the country invited cooperative members to develop their activities in a pilot site of 4 ha belonging to the institute. This project which is proposed by IPM cooperative group following to the invitation of Iranian Research Institute

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of Plant Protection, aims to develop urban agriculture activities in the above mentioned pilot site and turn it to a national demonstration site. It is expected that results and researches done in the site could be utilized by farmers and researchers throughout the country.

Main activities of the project include:
-Organizing different members of IPM cooperative group to participate in practical activities of the site dividing the site into several plots to study IPM techniques on products which are conventionally grown using numerous chemicals
-Cultivating and studying plants which could act as chemical pesticides and fertilizers
-Simulating effects of chemical pesticides and fertilizer on human body to demonstrate these effects to public and students
-Utilizing Biogas to produce compost and optimize the efficiency of organic fertilizers
-Setting up a solar heated greenhouse to grow greenhouse vegetable during the winter
-Improving biodiversity through cultivation of multipurpose plant species and associated animal species to prevent soil erosion
-Supporting IPM products market through setting up permanent direct market on the site
-Providing training to public on IPM production of vegetables in urban spaces
-Establishing a compost unit using urban wastes and recyclable house garbage
-Encouraging environmentalist and urban NGOs to organize visits to the site
-Facilitating cooperation of farmers and experts to develop new techniques to be used in farms and gardens

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