This article notes the reasons for the persistent decline in the number of key types of agricultural equipment: low profitability of agricultural organizations, especially in the small and medium-sized business segments, and high bank loans and leasing costs. The government is attempting to influence the market for agricultural equipment by stimulating demand through loan and leasing incentives, but this only slows the negative trend. If the nature of relations in the market for agricultural equipment does not change, the decline in the number of equipment in domestic agriculture will continue. To revive investment processes in agriculture, as in all sectors of the economy, institutional changes in financial and credit policy are necessary.
Recently, the number of problems that impede the process of agricultural development has been steadily growing, in this regard, the key prerequisite for overcoming a set of problems is the development of theoretical and methodological approaches to systematizing the problems of agricultural development and assessing them using economic and mathematical modeling techniques. The novelty of the study lies in the generalization and development of theoretical provisions of agricultural development problems, as well as in the development of a methodology for assessing agricultural development problems based on a comprehensive toolkit of theoretical and empirical aspects of analysis. The proposed evaluation methodology includes the use of theoretical analysis of the development process of the agricultural economy and an empirical stage using methods of multidimensional statistical analysis and quantitative studies using databases, on the basis of which two new indicators from the evaluation system are calculated. As the main tool for describing target segments and their profiles, we suggest using a clustered approach to grouping objects.
The article describes a transactional approach to assessing structural changes in the intersectoral economic relations of agricultural entities. To assess cross-industry interaction when using the transactional approach, it is necessary to have relevant data for each business entity. Behavioral and measurement approaches are used for these purposes. In the first case, different levels of management are investigated and the behavioral motives of owners, managers, and employees are analyzed. This is achieved by conducting special surveys or questionnaires, the results of which reveal the characteristic signs of transactions. The measurement approach uses information from statistical and accounting reports. The assessment is based on the growth or reduction rates of costs, divided into transformational and transactional; variable and constant depending on the scale of activity of business entities (micro, small, medium). During the analyzed period (2013-2023), it was determined that the highest share is occupied by material costs (63-65%). Labor costs in agriculture are higher and equal to 14%, in the food industry they are lower and amount to 10-12%. There is a slight increase in the share of other expenses; on average, they amount to 7-10 percent. The analysis showed that in agriculture, together with hunting and services, the ratio of variable and fixed costs averaged 80:20 for 2013-2023. The highest share of transformational costs for production was in 2016 – 84 %; transactional in 2013 – 23%. Depending on the market position of business entities as participants in production and distribution chains, transaction costs can change significantly and affect the financial results of their activities.
The key problems in the economic activities of Russian agricultural enterprises act as systemic constraints on growth and can be solved through technological modernization. The deep technological modernization is not just desirable, but a necessary imperative to overcome the "trap of inefficiency" and transition to an intensive growth model. The system transformation will simultaneously increase productivity, reduce costs, guarantee quality and create high added value, ensuring the long-term competitiveness of the Russian agro-industrial complex.
The conducted research allowed the authors to clarify the content of the category "human capital of the agroindustrial complex" in the context of digital transformation, to substantiate that the human capital of the agroindustrial complex acquires a new quality in the context of digital transformation.: It is becoming not just a resource, but an active driver of economic security and sustainable rural development. Based on the assessment of the level of digital maturity and the quality of human capital in the agro-industrial complex of the regions of Southern Russia for 2020-2024. It has been revealed that there is a gap between the potential and the realization of human capital, which is constrained by various barriers: in the North Caucasus Federal District - low digital maturity and migration outflow, in the Southern Federal District - insufficient integration of education and production. It is determined that in order to overcome these barriers, a transition from universal solutions to differentiated strategies is necessary, including: adaptation of the system of higher and secondary vocational education to the demands of the digital economy; development of digital competencies in small businesses through simplified training formats; creation of agro-industrial clusters as an environment for the practical realization of knowledge.
The article explores modern approaches to adapting the system of human capital formation and development to the challenges of digital transformation. It emphasizes that the capabilities of certain approaches are a strategically important vector that contributes to strengthening scientific and educational potential. Based on scientific consensus, the article presents a visually organized and economic mechanism for adapting the system of human capital formation and development to the challenges of digital transformation in the context of center-peripheral spatial-network interaction.
The article substantiates the necessity of applying a systems approach to human capital management in the agro-industrial complex within the context of the transition to a new technological paradigm. The authors have developed an original system model that represents human capital as a complex, open, and self-regulating system. The model structures development factors into "hard" elements (health, education, competencies, physiology) and "soft" elements (talents, emotional intelligence, motivation, level of culture), considering the industry specifics of the agro-industrial complex and differentiation by place of residence (urban/rural). The study demonstrates how a comprehensive impact on these elements, under the influence of the external environment (ecology, economy, demography, politics), enables the achievement of the model's key outcome – the growth of labor productivity.
The main condition for the development of animal husbandry, increasing its productivity and product quality is to ensure a sustainable fodder base, on the rational organization of which, the volume and quality of fodder depend on the further prospects for modernization and development of the industry. The paper identifies the principles of organizing the fodder base, which include: compliance with zonal conditions and the production direction of the livestock industry; proportionality in the development of livestock and fodder production; year-round provision of animals with biologically complete feed throughout the year; rational use of land resources; high economic efficiency; full satisfaction of the animals' need for complete feed with a minimum of labor costs and funds for production. As a result of the current transformation of the regions of the Russian Federation, the level of functioning of the livestock and fodder production sectors, including their technical and technological base, is diverse. The analysis of the fodder base of the Russian Federation and the Central Black Earth Region was carried out. In the course of the study, it was established that the key role in the fodder production system is its technical and technological support, which ultimately contributes to increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of livestock products. A new method of feeding is described, which involves the use of a feed additive, including dried and chopped Jerusalem artichoke tubers, as a component of the diet of dairy cows. It allows increasing the efficiency of feeding cows kept at enterprises with organic dairy farming, due to the positive dynamics of milk productivity, as well as improving the quality of milk. The presence of high concentrations of natural polysaccharides, mainly of inulin nature, in the feed additive is unique.
The article presents cognitive simulation modeling of investment and innovation development of agricultural enterprises based on the construction and analysis of cognitive map G, which includes 26 nodes and 106 arcs. The methodology describes the formation of nodes, the matrix of cause-and-effect relationships, the identification of optimal paths and cycles, as well as the assessment of structural stability and controllability of the model using the CMCS software system. An analysis of node characteristics was conducted, key positive and negative cycles were identified, and optimal impact pathways were determined. Scenario-based impulse modeling of investment and innovation development was carried out under two scenarios: «Unipolar Development» demonstrates localized growth with delayed social resistance; «Harmonious Development» ensures a synergistic effect and a significant increase in the target indicator V1 – «level of investment and innovation development». Based on the results obtained, recommendations were formulated emphasizing the need for a comprehensive policy that includes institutional measures, human resource support, and the development of an educational environment to ensure sustainable investment and innovation growth in the agricultural sector.
The article describes a methodology for constructing a causal graph model of profitability of sales of key sectors of the Russian fisheries complex: fishing and fish farming. The empirical basis was the dynamic series from 2000 to 2023 of ten federal statistics indicators, smoothed using the LOESS method and stabilized by logarithmization and differentiation (taking first differences). Based on the construction and analysis of cross-correllograms, relationships between factors affecting the development of the fisheries industry were established, and those with the greatest impact on return on sales were selected. Models with distributed lags were constructed, and factors with a lagged effect were identified. A consistency check of the constructed model with actual data demonstrated the high validity of the methodology. The statistical analysis resulted in the construction of a cause-and-effect graph with a weighted assessment of the impact of factors on the key resulting indicator based on standardized regression coefficients. The presented graph model can be used to support management decision-making and can be expanded by introducing additional parameters based on the performance indicators of fisheries and aquaculture enterprises.