Introduction: Wheat is one of the most strategic agricultural commodities globally serving as a critical foundation for food security, national economic stability, and sustainable development. In Iran, wheat has a particularly vital role, not only because it constitutes a major share of household caloric intake but also because it symbolizes self-sufficiency efforts in the agricultural sector. Nevertheless, the traditional wheat supply chain in Iran is characterized by inefficiencies including excessive consumption of water and energy, limited utilization of digital technologies, low transparency in information flow, outdated infrastructure, and multiple economic and policy-related constraints. These inefficiencies are further exacerbated by the country's vulnerability to climate change, water scarcity, and international sanctions, which together pose significant challenges to maintaining and improving food security. The advent of smart supply chain technologies, including the Internet of Things, blockchain, artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and digital twins, has opened new pathways for improving supply chain efficiency, traceability, and sustainability. A smart wheat supply chain can enable real-time monitoring of production, predictive analytics for resource optimization, transparent transactions among stakeholders, and resilient logistics systems that are adaptable to environmental and market shocks. Transitioning to such a model is increasingly seen as not merely an option but a necessity for Iran’s agricultural future. However, this transformation is neither simple nor automatic. It is hampered by multiple technological, social, economic, and environmental barriers, the identification and prioritization of which are critical for effective policy formulation and implementation.
Materials and Methods: The present study was designed to systematically identify, validate, and prioritize the key challenges associated with managing a smart wheat supply chain within the framework of sustainable development. A qualitative research strategy was employed, combining meta-synthesis, fuzzy Delphi, and fuzzy FOCUM methodologies. Initially, a comprehensive meta-synthesis was conducted on scholarly articles published between 2014 and 2024, accessed through reputable databases such as Web of Science and Scopus. Inclusion criteria mandated that articles should address technological, environmental, economic, or social barriers to smart supply chain implementation.
Following the extraction of relevant challenges from the literature, a fuzzy Delphi method was utilized to validate these barriers. A panel of 23 experts participated in two iterative rounds of the Delphi process. This fuzzy approach was selected to handle uncertainties inherent in expert opinions and to provide a more nuanced assessment. Finally, the validated challenges were prioritized using the fuzzy FOCUM. This method offers an efficient and consistency-checked prioritization of factors by requiring fewer pairwise comparisons than traditional methods like AHP, making it particularly suitable for complex decision-making scenarios with multiple criteria under uncertainty.
Results and Discussion: The analysis resulted in the identification of a wide range of barriers, which were classified into three main dimensions as follows: (1) Environmental barriers included high energy consumption during production and transportation, lack of recycling systems for electronic and smart agricultural equipment, dependency on non-renewable energy sources, and inefficient water resource management. These factors not only increase operational costs but also undermine the environmental sustainability of the wheat supply chain, posing risks to long-term agricultural resilience in Iran's water-scarce context; (2) Social challenges were found to be particularly complex and multi-layered. A significant proportion of farmers and supply chain actors displayed limited digital literacy, with inadequate access to training programs that could bridge the technological knowledge gap. Cultural resistance to change, lack of trust in new technologies, and weak collaboration among supply chain participants were also prominent barriers. Moreover, digital divides between rural and urban areas hindered equitable access to smart solutions, creating imbalances in technological adoption. The absence of supportive policies and regulatory frameworks further compounded these challenges, making it difficult to build momentum for widespread digital transformation; and (3) Economic barriers were among the most critical. High initial investment costs for smart technologies, uncertainty regarding return on investment, technological dependence on foreign suppliers, and financial constraints, especially among smallholder farmers and medium-sized enterprises, were major issues. The impact of international sanctions, which restrict access to advanced technologies and international financing, emerged as a uniquely significant barrier in Iran’s case. Furthermore, the lack of robust digital infrastructure, such as high-speed internet connectivity in rural areas, posed additional obstacles to the successful implementation of smart supply chains. In response to these findings, a set of comprehensive policy recommendations were developed. These include the establishment of a National Smart Agriculture Council to orchestrate multi-stakeholder efforts, the formulation of a detailed operational roadmap for smart supply chain transformation, and the provision of financial incentives for renewable energy adoption and local technology development. Expanding digital infrastructure in rural areas, setting up specialized e-waste recycling centers, and adopting flexible financial models such as "Everything-as-a-Service" (XaaS) were also proposed to lower adoption costs and risks. Promoting collaborative ecosystems and enhancing transparency through blockchain technology could additionally support stakeholder trust and cooperation.
Conclusion and Suggestions: The successful development of a smart wheat supply chain in Iran hinges on addressing a complex interplay of environmental, social, and economic barriers. Strategic policymaking at the national level must be complemented by effective institutional coordination and robust capacity-building initiatives at the operational level. There is an urgent need for investment not only in physical infrastructure but also in human capital through training and education programs that can raise digital literacy among all supply chain actors. Moreover, given the unique challenges posed by international sanctions, Iran must pursue localized technological innovation and foster indigenous capacity-building to reduce reliance on external sources. Transparent governance structures, data security frameworks, and regulatory standards must be developed to foster trust and ensure ethical management of digital resources. This study contributes to the existing literature by offering a comprehensive and context-specific analysis of the barriers to smart agricultural supply chain transformation, emphasizing the importance of a holistic and integrated approach that balances technological advancement with environmental stewardship, economic viability, and social inclusiveness. By providing actionable insights, the findings can guide policymakers, researchers, and industry practitioners in designing interventions that not only enhance the efficiency and resilience of the wheat supply chain but also promote broader goals of sustainable agricultural development.