Food Policy and Security

The article is devoted to the problem of the global food crisis amidst the modern geopolitical situation. The authors conducted an assessment of global hunger and malnutrition, which showed that since 2019, the number of undernourished in the world has increased from 135 to 345 million, and 50 million people from 45 countries are on the verge of hunger. In 2022, 33.3% of the rural population suffered mainly from moderate or acute food insecurity, compared with 28.8% in suburban areas and 26.0% in urban areas. Conflicts and extreme weather events continue to exacerbate the problem of severe food insecurity and malnutrition. However, another significant factor of hunger, especially in the poorest countries of the world, was the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the negative consequences of the military actions in Ukraine, primarily due to the high dependence of these countries on food imports and agricultural resources and vulnerability to global food price spikes. The key points in solving the problem under study should be as follows: improving the system of social protection and combating poverty, promoting sustainable agricultural development, providing humanitarian assistance to certain groups of the population, developing investment activities in the field of nutrition, increasing investment activity in the field of research and technology, etc.Acknowledgments:The article was prepared within the framework of state assignments of IPR RAS, research topics “Institutional transformation of economic security in solving socio-economic problems of sustainable development of the national economy of Russia” and “Modeling of processes to ensure sustainable and balanced socio-economic and spatial development of Russia and neighboring countries in order to form a Greater Eurasian Partnership”.

The article is devoted to the study of the problems and prospects of ensuring food security in Russia amidst sanctions. The theoretical foundations of food security are revealed. The high dynamism of this category is emphasized. It provides up-to-date statistical information and factors that describe food security in Russia and serve as the basis for identifying fundamental problems. Based on the results of the analysis of the problems of ensuring food security amidst sanctions restrictions, a whole range of problems is revealed.These problems are as follows: general instability, the complexity of adaptation in certain areas, the lack of infrastructure for reorientation of communication channels of business entities with foreign partners, the destruction of food supply chains and reduced availability of essential materials, raw materials and equipment, increased financial threats (credit burden and lack of investment), negative dynamics in the field of personnel qualifications, reduced quality and safety manufactured food products. It is clarified that today the primary task of the state is social security for poorly protected and food security risk groups of the population, economic support for existing enterprises that make a significant contribution to the food security of the country, creating conditions for import substitution and supporting relevant initiatives, and striving to establish or strengthen contacts with partner countries.

The problems of socio-economic development of rural areas require the development of innovative approaches to the formation of rural ecosystems. Recently, researchers have begun to pay attention to hybrid institutions for the formation of rural ecosystems, as institutions that have the properties inherent in institutions of an ideal type, and which can serve as a foundation for innovative development of rural areas, combining the qualities of not only social orientation and compliance with state priorities, but also commercial efficiency. Hybrid institutions operate not in one plane of ecosystem development, but at least in three: on the one hand, they form the foundation of economic relations, secondly, they ensure the social stability of territorial development, and thirdly, they favor the innovative development of the territorial socio-economic system. The formation of a system of hybrid institutions makes it possible to create hybrid organizations that play a decisive role in the management of public goods and territorial resources. Nevertheless, the systems of state support for rural development that stimulate the development of hybrid institutions remain insufficiently studied. This article discusses a case study of rural ecosystems on the example of the Sverdlovsk region, which presents different forms of support. The study showed that it is hybrid institutions that are able to expand the horizons of rural development, provide the necessary stability and their ability to self-development. With proper support systems and actors, hybrid institutions and hybrid organizations based on them to support rural development can not only flourish, but also have a significant impact on the socio-economic development of rural areas. This proves the need to take into account institutional diversity in the context of rural socio-economic ecosystems.Статья подготовлена в соответствии с Планом НИР Института Экономики Уральского Отделения РАН

Food security is the basis of any country existence. This is the basis for country's sovereignty and national security. Bread and flour, in turn, are the main socially significant goods, and the grain industry is the main branch of the agro–industrial complex. The article assesses the food security of the Siberian Federal District, namely the level of self-sufficiency in cereals. Consumption and economic availability of bread products were analyzed. The regions that are the main suppliers of grain and its processed products have been identified. The conclusion about the availability of cereals and legumes, as well as bread products in the Siberian Federal District, despite the differences in natural conditions in the regions, is made. This is achieved through interregional trade in both agricultural products (grain) and food (flour). This article will be of interest not only to the scientific community, but also to a wide range of people.

One of the key aspects of the sustainable development of the whole humanity is the stable economic growth of the food sector, in particular, the meat processing segment. At the moment, extensive forms of industrial production have exhausted their potential; the main vector of current development is focused on extensive methods and approaches. One of the key tools of the latter is the informatization and automation of production and business activity. The key aspect is the creation of a highly integrated system of automation and informatization of all spheres of organization and management within the company. The main goal is to maximize the efficiency of the processes of provision, transportation, evaluation, control, and monitoring of all cycles and stages of the production process that would comply with the principles of environmental safety, sustainable economic growth and development, as well as a high level of corporate development (social aspect).All this contributes to the reduction of all types of costs: production, commercial, and managerial ones. Respectively, this has a positive effect on the selling price of finished products (it is more competitive in the consumer market), which ensures the strengthening of competitive advantages and the growth of market share. The article analyzes the current state and dynamics of the development of the domestic industry segment. The article proves the prospects and practical significance of the development and implementation of advanced achievements in the field of automation and digitalization in the meat processing sector of the agro-industrial complex. A comparative analysis of the effectiveness of software systems for optimizing the recipes of finished products is carried out. Recommendations for the implementation of the latter at LLC MPK Saguny are given.

The qualitative side of food security is evidenced by the structural side of saturation of the consumer market, provided that food products of different food groups are physically and economically accessible. Fish and fishery products are the most important component of human nutrition. In the Russian fisheries, there is an increase in the volume of catch, extraction and production of fish and other aquatic organisms. The increase in the volume of fish and aquatic organisms cultivation in 2017-2021 compared to 2002-2006 amounted to 229.5%. This is 73.8% more than the growth rate of fishing and production in the seas and inland waters of the country. Marine aquaculture received the most dynamic development in 2017-2021. The volume of its production increased 3.2 times to 182.0 thousand tons, but freshwater fish farming showed a more stable position of development over the previous decade. In Russia, all categories of management with different levels of fish production intensity are developing. The low level of aquaculture production efficiency is shown. The conclusion about the need to improve the reproductive contour of the industry is made. Sustainable growth of aquaculture in Russia can be achieved only with an integrated approach to the formation of the production potential and the creation of internal impulses to stimulate its development. From a strategic point of view, the problem of ensuring the uniform consumption of fish by the population living throughout the country should be solved.

The sustainable development of the dairy subcomplex is a core element of the country's food security. The article formulates the factors of sustainable development of the industry, taking into account Western sanctions and changes in the export-import potential of the region. Based on the application of econometric modeling, a model of sustainable development of dairy cattle breeding in the region was built under the influence of a system of dominant factors. The factors of sustainable development of the dairy industry in the Smolensk region have been analyzed. The authors took into account the effectiveness of breeding and genetic potential, the application of import substitution policy and the activation of state support for the industry. The key role of domestic livestock breeds in solving problems of food security and normalization of herd reproduction processes is determined.