The escalation of the conflict in Iran and the subsequent blocking of the Strait of Hormuz in early 2026 had a significant and multifaceted impact on the global economy, with consequences for the energy and agricultural sectors. The Strait of Hormuz is a critically important maritime artery through which about a quarter of the world's maritime oil trade passes, as well as significant volumes of liquefied natural gas (LNG), mineral fertilizers and food. Disruption of stability in this region inevitably leads to higher energy prices, disruptions in supply chains, and, as a result, higher food production costs and a threat to global food security. In the event of a further escalation of the conflict, the global oil market and existing transport and logistics corridors will require significant restructuring. The conflict in the Middle East has led to a sharp jump in global energy prices, which has a direct and indirect impact on the agricultural sector. The Persian Gulf countries, being major producers of oil, gas and fertilizers, are experiencing a direct impact of the conflict on their economies and export opportunities. Countries with high dependence on imported energy and fertilizers, as well as limited opportunities to subsidize the agricultural sector, found themselves in the most vulnerable position. The countries where humanitarian problems are likely to worsen are Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen, Afghanistan and Lebanon. According to the UN World Food Program, there were more than 318 million people in Iran before the escalation of the conflict. They have already experienced severe food shortages, which undermines efforts to ensure global food security. Russia's trade relations with the countries of the Middle East account for a significant share of Russia's trade turnover, and the trade in agricultural products and foodstuffs between Russia and Iran has grown significantly in recent years. The aggravation of the situation in the Middle East affects the further development of Russian-Iranian trade and economic cooperation in the field of agriculture, namely, increasing exports of agri-food products, prospects for the implementation of transport and logistics infrastructure projects, in particular the use of the international transport corridor "North-South". In this regard, the study of the consequences of the escalation of the conflict in Iran on global food security in connection with Russia's national interests is the most relevant.
The article analyzes the mechanisms of transmission of a geopolitical shock in the event of a closure of the Strait of Hormuz and its impact on global agricultural commodity markets. The study identifies the channels through which a sharp reduction in the transit of oil, liquefied natural gas, and fertilizers through the strait translates into increased production costs and higher wholesale prices for grains, oilseeds, and food products overall. Based on official data from the International Energy Agency (IEA), the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), it is demonstrated that approximately 20 million barrels of oil and petroleum products per day—around 20% of global consumption—are transported through the strait, along with nearly 20% of the global liquefied natural gas market, a key feedstock for nitrogen fertilizer production. The study analytically distinguishes between short-term effects (price shocks and supply chain disruptions) and medium-term effects (logistical restructuring, producer adaptation, and increased food vulnerability). It is established that net food-importing countries and developing economies bear disproportionately high costs due to the combined rise in energy, fertilizer, and freight prices. The paper concludes that there is a systemic interdependence between energy and food security, necessitating proactive international response mechanisms.
The article examines the role of formal and informal institutions in shaping the development trajectory of Russia’s regional agro-industrial complex. The study analyzes the structure of the institutional environment of the agro-industrial sector, which includes legal, organizational, infrastructural and social components, and evaluates the key mechanisms through which they influence the efficiency and sustainability of the industry. A comparative regional analysis is conducted using an integrated institutional development index that reveals spatial differentiation in institutional quality, innovation levels and investment activity. Special attention is given to institutional barriers, such as inconsistencies in support measures, insufficient development of cooperation, infrastructural constraints and workforce shortages. The findings highlight the uneven nature of the institutional environment and substantiate the need for differentiated management solutions. The materials of the article can be used by public authorities, research institutions and experts in the development of regional strategies for agro-industrial development.
Agricultural producers in the Republic of Belarus are represented by several categories of farms: agricultural organizations, private farms, and peasant farms. Each category of farm has its own organizational and economic characteristics, including the quantitative composition and the volume of crop and livestock production. These aspects directly influence the financial results of agricultural production through the reproduction of fixed and working capital, expenses, and sales profitability. This ultimately determines the profitability of the agricultural business. The aim of this study is to identify the organizational and economic characteristics of agricultural production in farms of different categories. This article analyzes the dynamics and structure of agricultural producers by farm category, as well as the dynamics and structure of agricultural production in the Republic of Belarus, revealing differences in agricultural production between agricultural organizations and peasant farms. The results of this study may be useful to agricultural sector authorities in developing measures to increase the profitability of agricultural producers.
With the accelerated digitalization of Russia's agro-industrial complex and growing interest in alternative sources of financing, the integration of Islamic financial services into digital agro-industrial ecosystems is acquiring strategic importance for expanding agricultural producers' access to Sharia-compliant capital. The lack of unified conceptual models and technical solutions for integrating Islamic financial instruments (sukuk, mudarabah, istisna', takaful, salam, ijara, and murabaha) into existing digital agro-industrial platforms limits the agricultural sector's ability to attract investment from Islamic countries. The aim of this study is to develop a modular architecture for integrating Islamic financial services into digital agro-industrial ecosystems. Using general economic methods such as analysis and synthesis, comparison and contrast, and systems and logical approaches, this article examines Islamic financial instruments as sources of financing for agricultural producers and the potential for their integration into digital agro-industrial platforms. Based on the results of the study, the architecture of a Sharia-compliant module for existing agro-ecosystems was proposed, ensuring the implementation of sukuk, mudarabah, istisna, takaful, salam, ijara, and murabaha through smart contracts, which opens up export opportunities in the markets of BRICS, OIC, Malaysia, the Persian Gulf countries, etc. The developed model for the integration of Islamic financial services into digital ecosystems of the agro-industrial complex for the first time systematizes approaches to their technological compatibility, creating a basis for regulatory and methodological support for the introduction of Sharia-compliant financing in the agricultural sector.
The article is devoted to the study of systemic problems that hinder the scientific and innovative development of agriculture. As a result of the conducted research, the trends of innovative development of agriculture, industry-specific features, which are its main constraining factors, have been identified. It is concluded that the scientific and innovative development of agriculture is determined by the amount of funding for research and development (R&D) and the availability of qualified personnel. There is a relatively low level of spending on research and development at the level of the state and agro-industrial companies in comparison with the leading Western countries. The reasons for the low level of R&D spending in Russia are revealed, including chronic underinvestment in science, the predominance of a strategy of borrowing innovations and a focus on short-term benefits. The disadvantages of the state policy in the field of labor market and remuneration are considered. The paper proves the excessive optimism of existing projects and programs to provide agriculture with qualified personnel without radically solving the problem of low wages, primarily for scientific and pedagogical staff.
The relevance of the research is due to the profound transformation of the agricultural sector in the context of liberalization and globalization, which highlights the task of finding adequate models of investment development. The problem lies in the lack of a comprehensive systematization of basic investment models in the modern economic literature as conceptual constructs describing the mechanisms of financing agricultural enterprises. The purpose of the article is to identify, systematize and conceptually model the basic trajectories of investment development in the context of economic liberalization. The methodological basis was formed by the methods of conceptual modeling, abstraction and idealization, which made it possible to synthesize generalized models as a system of cause-and-effect relationships. As a result of the research, it is proved that the variety of investment strategies can be reduced to a limited range of basic models. The model of a fully liberalized market is analyzed in detail, and its fundamental duality is revealed: on the one hand, powerful incentives for efficiency through competition, on the other hand, inherent systemic deficiencies leading to monopolization, underinvestment in long–term and social projects, and structural imbalances. A key analytical tool and a derived relative indicator have been developed to assess the feasibility of opening the agricultural sector to the global market with a threshold criterion. The main conclusion is that the historical model of "pure" market investment is internally unstable and is being transformed into models with mixed regulation, and its restoration in modern conditions is untenable.
This article examines the key development areas of the country's agricultural sector and its competitiveness. It analyzes the regulatory framework governing the competitiveness of the industry both globally and in Russia. Agricultural competitiveness is influenced by various factors, including institutional, resource, production, demand-side, innovation, and others. Investments in the industry are key to improving production efficiency and competitiveness. However, investment in the domestic agrifood sector is currently stagnating. This article provides a comparative cross-country analysis of crop yields and livestock productivity. It assesses the volume and dynamics of labor productivity in agriculture in the main agrifood producing countries. An analysis of changes in agricultural labor productivity over the past nearly a quarter century in Russia has shown that productivity has increased exponentially. This was largely made possible by the implementation of agricultural policies aimed at the sustainable development of agriculture and increasing its competitiveness, which led to a significant increase in investment in the industry, especially during the implementation of the first State Program. At the same time, Russia still lags behind many other countries in this indicator. It is emphasized that, under current conditions, improving the competitiveness of agricultural production through innovative and investment-driven development will become the foundation for sustainable and dynamic growth.
The article examines the investment attractiveness of the regions of Russian as a key indicator of sustainable socio-economic development. In the context of a global economy, special attention is paid to the factors that affect the level of investment and its distribution across regions, including infra-structure development, the availability of scientific research, innovative enterprises, and a qualified workforce. The analysis used data on investment attractiveness ratings provided by the National Rating Agency. Quantitative and qualitative assessment methods were used, including statistical analysis and a comparative approach. The results show that regions with a high concentration of innovative enterprises and research centers demonstrate higher levels of investment attractiveness. The paper discusses the implications of these trends for the socioeconomic development of regions and emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive approach that takes into account both economic and social factors in order to improve the investment climate. The conclusion highlights the need for effective strategies aimed at enhancing investment attractiveness and promoting sustainable economic growth.
The study focuses on the implementation of green logistics technologies and the need to use them in the process of organizing trade in agricultural products. The author's approach to defining the category of «green logistics» is presented. Key trends in the current development of the environmental market are examined, and the main drivers of its expansion are identified. Key areas for improving the environmental focus of logistics, including green warehousing and storage, environmentally friendly transportation, sustainable packaging and recycling, and environmental training, are analyzed. The feasibility of implementing green technologies is demonstrated, and the types of benefits from their application are identified. The main factors hindering the development of green logistics and the application of related innovations are identified. Projections of future development trajectories for this market segment are provided. Examples of the successful implementation of green technologies by foreign and domestic companies are provided.