University of Tehran Press Iranian Journal of Biosystem Engineering 2008-4803 57 1 2026 04 21 Identifying and Analyzing Influential Variables Affecting the Development Pathways of Agricultural Mechanization in Boroujerd Province through PESTEL and Cross-Impact Approach Identifying and Analyzing Influential Variables Affecting the Development Pathways of Agricultural Mechanization in Boroujerd Province through PESTEL and Cross-Impact Approach 37 62 106678 10.22059/ijbse.2026.402239.665612 FA Mehrdad Jalalvand Department of Agricultural Machinery Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran 0000-0003-0112-7356 Asadollah Akram Faculty Member in Department of Agricultural Machinery Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran. 0000-0002-0835-0975 Majid Khanali Department of Agricultural Machinery Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran 0000-0001-6133-4862 Journal Article 2025 09 12 Agriculture, as the most critical pillar of food security, requires the adoption of modern and forward-looking technologies in the field of mechanization. The present study was conducted with the aim of identifying and examining the effects of variables influencing the development of agricultural mechanization in Boroujerd Province. To this end, through field studies, documentary reviews, and the collection of expert opinions from specialists in agricultural mechanization, a total of 73 influencing variables were identified and validated. Among these, 64 variables with an importance coefficient higher than 75 percent were selected. After confirming the reliability of the collected questionnaires, cross-impact analysis was conducted across six groups, namely political, economic, sociocultural, technical, environmental, and legal. Then, 19 key variables from different groups were selected, and both direct and indirect influence calculations were performed on these. In the combined analysis of variables, the highest direct influence and dependence scores were obtained for variables education and extension and precision agriculture technology, with respective values of 904 and 1523. Similarly, the highest indirect influence and dependence scores were attributed to government financial support and environmental pressures on natural resources, with respective values of 963 and 1463. According to the results, sustainable development of agricultural mechanization will only be achieved when, alongside technical investments, sociocultural, political, and environmental variables are also given due consideration. Otherwise, the mechanization process will not only lack the necessary efficiency, but may also generate adverse consequences for food security, natural resources, and the overall trajectory of the country's sustainable development. Agriculture, as the most critical pillar of food security, requires the adoption of modern and forward-looking technologies in the field of mechanization. The present study was conducted with the aim of identifying and examining the effects of variables influencing the development of agricultural mechanization in Boroujerd Province. To this end, through field studies, documentary reviews, and the collection of expert opinions from specialists in agricultural mechanization, a total of 73 influencing variables were identified and validated. Among these, 64 variables with an importance coefficient higher than 75 percent were selected. After confirming the reliability of the collected questionnaires, cross-impact analysis was conducted across six groups, namely political, economic, sociocultural, technical, environmental, and legal. Then, 19 key variables from different groups were selected, and both direct and indirect influence calculations were performed on these. In the combined analysis of variables, the highest direct influence and dependence scores were obtained for variables education and extension and precision agriculture technology, with respective values of 904 and 1523. Similarly, the highest indirect influence and dependence scores were attributed to government financial support and environmental pressures on natural resources, with respective values of 963 and 1463. According to the results, sustainable development of agricultural mechanization will only be achieved when, alongside technical investments, sociocultural, political, and environmental variables are also given due consideration. Otherwise, the mechanization process will not only lack the necessary efficiency, but may also generate adverse consequences for food security, natural resources, and the overall trajectory of the country's sustainable development. https://ijbse.ut.ac.ir/article_106678_6e28f780b5906605fffd8130a7397183.pdf