On methodological tools for studying problems of the development of agro-industrial complex

The article considers the methodological tools used by domestic and foreign scientists to carry out research and educational activities in the field of studying problems of development of the agro-industrial complex. Within the framework of the study, it was established that, despite the applied and practice-oriented nature of food issues, scientists use theoretical rather than empirical research methods to a greater extent — they predominantly turn to traditional and simplest methods of processing information, without fully using the existing economic –mathematical and economic-statistical apparatus. It has been revealed that scientists, as a rule, use only methods of deterministic factor analysis in relation to clearly dependent quantities and indicators, while methods of stochastic factor analysis are practically not used; the insufficiency and limitation of using the balance method as one of the key ways to determine the substantive aspect of the studied sphere have been established. Based on the results, the author’s approach to the use of methodological tools for the balanced development of food supply for the population is proposed, where at the first stage calculation methods for assessing economic information are used, at the second stage — methods of factor analysis, at the third — theoretical research methods and at the final stage — methods of modeling and optimization of economic indicators. The results of the study can be used to improve the conceptual and fundamental foundations for the development of the domestic agro-industrial complex and future practical transformations in the food sector.