Challenges of Sustainable Food Security in Iran: Using Grounded Theory and AHP

The purpose of this research is identifying and prioritize the challenges of sustainable food security in Iran. This research has been conducted from June 2022 to April 2023 to provide a comprehensive, and applied model to understand the challenges through Grounded Theory (GT) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) in Khouzestan province, Iran. This research is an applied type of research. The data were collected by performing focus group and brain storming techniques with the 35 agricultural experts in this field. Data analysis was done by using MAXQDA ₁₂ software in three steps: open, axial and selective coding. The results of this study by GT identified 34 initial codes and seven main following challenges were categorized and by AHP prioritized: low production efficiency and lack of attention to extension of the favorable consumption pattern, lack of facility support and empowerment for the development of agricultural products, failure to monitor production diversity and proper cultivation pattern, little attention to the criteria of sustainable agricultural development in production, lack of attention to the development of transformation and complementary industries and the production of healthy products with a knowledge-based approach, unfavorable economic conditions for access and continued consumption of healthy food and lack of necessary export platforms and lack of monitoring of illegal imports. Finally applied recommendations were presented to reduce the existing challenges.