Modeling Stakeholder Interactions in the Oilseeds Sector's Food Security Using a Problem Structuring Approach

Food security holds such strategic significance that ensuring it plays a pivotal role in a nation's economic and political self-reliance. The growing reliance on foreign governments for essential food supply considerably undermines a country's political and economic leverage on the global stage. Regrettably, Iran finds itself grappling with over 90 percent dependency on the oilseeds sector, consequently amplifying the nation's susceptibility. Thus, the current study addresses this critical concern, vital for a nation's sustenance. Accordingly, this study comprises the development and cultivation plan of oilseeds in the Islamic Republic of Iran intending to portray a deep-rooted power system that has been formed in the food security system that hinders the optimal implementation strategies. Consequently, the paper aims to provide a model of key stakeholders in the field of food security by employing the Problem Structuring Method (PSM), in search of better analysis of policies and supporting strategies.
 
The study employs stakeholder analysis to introduce the actual stakeholders followed by cognitive mapping, considering the chaotic nature of the issue and structuring the problem for providing an agreed and committed solution.  To this aim, FC mapper software is employed for concept mapping, interrelation, and important analysis. Oilseeds Stakeholders were chosen according to the library research method and upstream documents. It was followed by semi-structured interviews with 25 food security experts who have been selected through snowball sampling, for structuring the mentioned stakeholders in a comprehensive model.
 
First, in the qualitative part, according to documents a list of 90 stakeholders was proposed. Then, Through the process of conducting expert interviews and utilizing cognitive mapping, while also taking into account additional factors like the objectives, responsibilities, and authorities of the relevant stakeholders, the aim was to ascertain the outcomes of the oilseed development and cultivation plan. Also, the degree of influence, effectiveness, and centrality of all influencing factors were determined which declares their priority as well. Accordingly, the Iranian Ministry of Agricultural is the most influential stakeholder with a value of 0.67, and food security and economic independence with a value of 0.51 is the most influential outcome among other outcomes.
 
The research focuses on the systematic formulation of the oilseed cultivation challenge in Iran, culminating in the development of a model to recognize stakeholders, delineate their objectives, responsibilities, and authorities, and analyze the ramifications of the implementation plan using the PSM. Identifying stakeholders as well as their power and interest, goals, and consequences, in a comprehensive model leads to significant implications for the management and maki-policy of the food security system and plays a more effective role in improving the conditions. The obtained outcomes were endorsed and utilized by the Hekmat Institute of Research Policy and Strategic Studies, which provided financial backing for the study.