Exploring the strategic approaches of innovation development in Iran's smart agriculture sector by using SIMUS method

The purpose of this article is to exploring the strategic approaches of innovation development for businesses that intend to have an acceptable position in the future of Iran's agriculture. In-depth interview with 12 selected experts, Delphi method and library document review were the methods of sampling and data analysis. The scope of the research is the entire agricultural sector of Iran.After extracting macro trends, innovation development strategies and specific innovations, by using strategic analysis tools, while extracting the most important environmental factors and the most important internal factors strategic positioning of Iranian businesses was done. Using the Simos method, the extracted strategies and innovations were ranked. The most important weakness of Iranian businesses was the lack of specialized and managerial knowledge and skills, and the most important strength was the possession of young and creative human resources. Widespread small ownership and immaturity of the innovation ecosystem in the agricultural sector were identified as the most important threats, and the richness of Iran's agricultural ecosystem, as well as the creative and educated human capital, were identified as the most important opportunities. Strategic cooperation for the development of applied innovations according to the maturity of the innovation ecosystem was the best strategy and internal commercialization of advanced innovations was identified as the weakest strategy. Innovations related to market efficiency and farm efficiency were identified as the most appropriate innovations and innovations related to advanced farms were identified as the most unsuitable innovations for the development of innovation in Iran's agricultural sector.