Challenges and Obstacles to Dairy Consumption in Iran from Stakeholders’ Perspectives Using a Food System Approach

Roshanak Roustaee, Hamed Rafiee, Delaram Ghodsi, Nasrin Omidvar, Hedayat Hosseini, Fatemeh Toorang and Hassan Eini-Zinab ()
Additional contact information
Roshanak Roustaee: Department of Community Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1981619573, Iran
Hamed Rafiee: Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Tehran, Tehran 3158777871, Iran
Delaram Ghodsi: Department of Nutrition Research, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1981619573, Iran
Nasrin Omidvar: Department of Community Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1981619573, Iran
Hedayat Hosseini: Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1981619573, Iran
Fatemeh Toorang: Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, 1419733141, Iran
Hassan Eini-Zinab: Department of Community Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1981619573, Iran

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 16, 1-26

Abstract: Background: Despite the potential benefits of increased dairy consumption for a sustainable diet among Iranians, low levels of dairy consumption and its decreasing trend have raised serious concerns. This study used the food systems approach to identify macro-level factors contributing to low dairy consumption in Iran. Materials and methods: In-depth interviews with 39 key informants and stakeholders from various sub-systems of the dairy food system were conducted from December 2021 to November 2022. The data analysis was conducted simultaneously with data collection, using a deductive–inductive content analysis approach. Results: The main challenges identified in the production and processing subsystems included the unsustainable development of a milk and dairy production system, high production and distribution costs, and an inconsistent quality of products. In the consumption subsystem, challenges were a reduced purchasing power of consumers, doubts about the necessity of dairy consumption, and concerns about safety risks. These challenges were further compounded by some other challenges in the dairy food system and contextual challenges such as economic instability, government sectoral policies, and Iran’s hot and semi-arid climate. Conclusion: Policy makers must revise the dairy industry’s structure, policies, and activities, and consider utilizing local livestock and feed production systems. Pricing policies should be reformed, subsidies provided for low-income groups, and promotion programs developed to enhance the public awareness of dairy’s nutritional value and safety. Independent quality control agencies should be established, and a comprehensive approach to promote good governance and improve the policy-making process should be adopted.

Keywords: supply chain; production; processing; consumption; sustainable development policy; dairy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/16/12568/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/16/12568/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:16:p:12568-:d:1220225

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().