OICC Press International Journal of Agricultural Management and Development 2159-5860 14 4 2024 12 30 Pathological Analysis of Developing Iran’s Overseas Agriculture 325 339 10.71877/ijamad.2024.8371 EN Farzaneh Rezaei Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agriculture, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran Farahnaz Rostami Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agriculture, Razi University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2636-0894 Journal Article 2024 12 30 Given that Iran's overseas agricultural initiatives have not been successful so far, and comprehensive information on the subject is lacking, the present study aimed to investigate the challenges and development of Iranian overseas agriculture. Overseas agriculture refers to the production of raw agricultural materials and inputs abroad by a country and their transfer into its geographical boundaries to meet domestic demand. It is essentially a form of foreign investment in the agricultural sector of countries that possess adequate capacity and production potential. In this study, relevant data were collected through in-depth semi‐structured interviews with 16 experts, relevant authorities, and overseas agricultural investors, selected using the snowball sampling approach. The interviews were analyzed using the conventional coding process in grounded theory, and the results were compiled in a matrix structure (including open and axial codes). According to the classified axial codes, several major problems hinder the development of Iran’s overseas agriculture. The most significant issue, receiving the highest weighted score, was the lack of technical knowledge, experience, and efficient management among some investors. Another key weakness was the insufficient understanding by investors of the host country's characteristics and potential. The main conclusions also highlighted the absence of a comprehensive information system for overseas agriculture and the lack of executive support for implementing the overseas agricultural statute. Several underlying factors contribute to these problems, such as the exclusion of private sector perspectives in drafting the statute and government policies, political tensions and interactions between host and investor countries, and international sanctions against Iran. Overall, the most notable potential benefit of Iran’s overseas agriculture lies in its capacity to support agricultural development and ensure food security, particularly under drought conditions. However, more evidence from countries with a long history of overseas agriculture is necessary to make a sound judgment about its advantages and disadvantages.