The development of foreign economic relations in the Russian agro-industrial complex (AIC) is currently taking place against the backdrop of a profound transformation of the global economic system, increased geopolitical tensions, and expanding sanctions. Although direct sanctions against Russian agricultural exports have not been imposed, restrictions on banks, individual companies, vessels, insurance, port services, and international settlements have significantly complicated foreign trade activities and increased exporters' logistics costs. The purpose of this study is to identify the role of logistics infrastructure in the development of foreign economic relations in Russia's agro-industrial complex under sanctions pressure and to substantiate areas for its improvement. It has been established that, despite external restrictions, Russia maintains a significant position in the global food market. Systemic logistics problems were identified: a high concentration of export flows in a limited number of southern ports, increasing pressure on alternative routes, underdeveloped specialized warehousing and transshipment infrastructure, differences in regional transport accessibility, and persistent problems with international payments and ship services. It was proven and substantiated that the further development of foreign economic relations in Russia's agricultural sector requires a transition to a more sustainable and diversified logistics model, including the modernization of port and rail infrastructure, accelerated development of the North-South international transport corridor, expansion of the network of agro-logistics centers, and the digitalization of export logistics.
The modern agro-industrial complex (AIC) of Russia is undergoing active transformation under the influence of external and internal factors, the most significant of which include rising logistics costs, sanctions pressure, and fragmented access to individual technological components. These factors highlight the need to increase labor productivity, reduce unit costs, and strengthen the resilience of food supply chains while maintaining the quality and regularity of supplies. Within the framework of economic theory and applied research, the digital transformation of the AIC, in the logic of increasing economic efficiency and implementing the systems of the Industry 4.0 concept, is interpreted as a transition from local automation to data-driven management, and to the cyber-physical integration of production, infrastructure, and logistics circuits along the entire value chain of "production – storage – processing – logistics – sales". The consequence of this transition is a shift in competitiveness toward manageable losses, reduced transaction costs, increased reliability of contract execution, and risk resilience, which is especially significant in the context of external shocks and increased volatility of resource supply. The aim of the study is to develop economic and mathematical tools for an integral assessment of the efficiency and sustainability of technological transformation of the AIC. The scientific novelty of the work consists of theoretical and practical assessments of the current digitalization model of Russian agriculture under the Industry 4.0 system; a clarification of the conceptual framework through an analysis of the constituent technologies of the term "Internet of Agro-Industrial Things" (IoAT), which defines the management object as a network of cyber-physical assets of the agro-industrial system and expands the Internet of Things in Agriculture (IoTAg); as well as the construction of an integral indicator that allows comparing the effects of digitalization across territories and farm types, taking into account digital connectivity and factors of technological independence.
In industrialized countries, food systems are extremely complex, requiring a high level of collaboration between government agencies and organizations along the food supply chain. Unfortunately, poorly structured policies can lead to unintended consequences and hinder changes that benefit farmers, plants and animals, consumers, and the environment. Sound food security and nutrition policies balance trade and domestic production to ensure stable food availability. At the same time, policies should increase the incomes of smallholder farmers and enhance nutritional value throughout the food chain. Trade policy is broader than the adoption of regulations. It involves setting strategic directions in food trade, that is, measures aimed at regulating trade in food and agricultural products to ensure food security and nutrition. Such policies can be implemented at the national and international levels.
The relevance of this study is justified by the rapid development of the environmentally oriented segment of the Russian agricultural market, which possesses significant potential to generate favorable multiplier effects, including improving public health, stimulating economic growth, ensuring the sustainable development of the agricultural sector, and expanding domestic and international trade in agro-food products. Analysis shows that consumption of organic products and other goods associated with healthy and safe nutrition is demonstrating accelerated growth rates compared to global indicators. However, Russia significantly lags behind the global average in terms of per capita consumption. One of the key barriers hindering the expansion of this market segment is infrastructural factors. At the same time, scientific research in this area is complicated by the almost complete lack of open and reliable statistical information on infrastructure and key market indicators, especially in the segment of natural, functional, and other healthy (safe) food products. This study examines the main infrastructural problems and explores ways to overcome them, using the example of wholesale and retail trade of organic products in the Russian domestic market. Methods of system analysis identified key infrastructural constraints in these segments of the market. In the wholesale sector, these include insufficient territorial development, unsatisfactory technical condition of logistical mechanisms, weak adoption of innovative solutions, and the absence of a unified digital platform for tracking the quality of organic products and a specialized electronic exchange system. In retail trade, issues such as a lack of effective marketing relationships with suppliers and consumers, as well as difficulties faced by small and medium-sized businesses in accessing distribution channels for organic products, were identified. The main conclusion of the study emphasizes the need to accelerate the digitalization of the entire organic product supply chain, including the adaptation of the «Mercury» system for quality control and the implementation of a hybrid electronic exchange model that combines the advantages of existing platforms with specialized solutions tailored to this industry. Key institutional measures include establishing a Center for the Development of the Environmentally Oriented Segment of the Agricultural Market under the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia, developing a long-term Infrastructure Development Strategy for wholesale and retail trade of organic products, and implementing comprehensive training programs for specialized personnel with an emphasis on modules of digital logistics and organic product certification.
Relevance of the topic. Amid the digitalization of the economy and the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the Russian payment system faces new challenges requiring modernization and effective government regulation. This makes the study of its transformation and adaptation to modern conditions extremely relevant. Problem Statement. Currently, existing indicators and mechanisms for assessing the Russian payment system are insufficient to adequately reflect its current state and development trends. This situation complicates the formulation of effective policies and decision-making necessary for the development and optimization of the national payment system. Research Objectives and Methods. The primary objective of the study is to identify key vectors of transformation in the payment system of agricultural enterprises in Russia, as well as to determine criteria and promising areas for its development in the context of digitalization. To achieve this goal, institutional, evolutionary, and systemic methodologies were used. The analysis included a study of the organizational structure, infrastructure, and regulatory mechanisms, as well as an assessment of the current payment system indicators. Results. The study revealed a discrepancy between currently used indicators, which do not fully reflect the fundamental characteristics and current state of the national payment system. New indicators and parameters for analysis have been developed that better align with the current requirements and objectives of the Strategic Plan for the Development of the National Payment System for 2025-2026. Key findings: For the Russian payment system to progress in the context of global digital transformation, the adaptation and modernization of its regulatory mechanisms is essential, which will positively impact the transformation of the agricultural sector. The application of new parameters will have a positive impact on the diagnostics and strategic development of the system, promoting its sustainability and effectiveness in a rapidly changing and complex financial business environment.
The article is devoted to the study of the main trends in the development of wholesale export trade in mineral fertilizers in Russia. The current state of export operations is analyzed, and Russia's place in the global fertilizer market is determined. Special attention is paid to changes in the volume and structure of exports, as well as the directions of reorientation of the markets for Russian mineral fertilizers, which have occurred due to the influence of the geopolitical situation and sanctions pressure. The article examines the prospects for the development of mineral fertilizer exports, taking into account the existing challenges and opportunities, assesses the key risks in this sector, and identifies the most effective risk management tools.
Cadastral valuation of agricultural land is a pressing issue, as it is closely linked to taxation, land rent determination, and agricultural planning. The purpose of this study is to analyze the results of the state cadastral valuation of agricultural land in the Samara Region to identify patterns and factors influencing cadastral value. The object of the study is agricultural land in the Samara Region. The methodological basis of the study is a systems approach, using statistical and comparative analysis, as well as tabular and graphical data interpretation. An analysis of the results of the state cadastral valuation of agricultural land in the Samara Region for 2012, 2019, and 2022 revealed a steady increase in cadastral value in almost all municipal districts of the region, averaging 150%. This increase is due to general economic trends, the increase in the market value of agricultural land, and the transition to a new mass valuation methodology from 2019 to 2022. Significant spatial differentiation of cadastral value (the difference between the maximum and minimum values is 3.3 times) confirms the hypothesis of heterogeneity in the region's land potential. This study spatially differentiates municipal districts of the Samara Region by the level of cadastral value of agricultural land, identifying high-, mid-, and low-price segments. To identify the key factors that have the greatest impact on the formation of the cadastral value of agricultural land in the Samara Region: soil agrochemical properties, ecological and meliorative conditions, geographic location, level of infrastructure development, agricultural specialization, and economic efficiency. The practical significance of the study is determined by the possibility of using the obtained results to improve tax, rental and investment policies, and to increase the efficiency of territorial development planning in the Samara region.
The development of small agribusiness is a prerequisite for the effective solution of socio-economic, ecological and epidemiological problems of rural areas, including ensuring the competitiveness of agriculture and food security of the country. Despite this, the current agri-food policy does not provide for appropriate measures. As a result, the number of agricultural enterprises and private farms has been declining rapidly in recent years, and such institutions of their support as consumer cooperation and contractual relations in the agro-industrial complex are in their infancy. At the same time, the role of agricultural holdings in agricultural production is growing, which indicates the continuation of the policy of economic monopolization and concentration of production in this sector. This suggests the need to increase the social focus of agricultural policy by strengthening support for small-scale farming in the agro-industrial complex, including through the development of consumer cooperatives and contract farming in the agro-industrial complex. To address this issue, it is necessary to establish a functional local self-government institution, as well as mechanisms that promote a more comprehensive consideration of the economic interests of the population by the government.
This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the availability and effectiveness of financing sources for small agribusinesses in Russia. It was found that three key financing channels – government support, bank lending, and agricultural credit consumer cooperatives – demonstrate divergent dynamics: government support is steadily growing, bank lending, while remaining dominant in terms of volume, is subject to market fluctuations, and the cooperative sector is experiencing a phase of systemic contraction. Each source is characterized by a specific set of accessibility barriers: grant programs require strict requirements for business planning and co-financing, banks require collateral and a requirement for verified income, and cooperatives have a limited resource base and maximum borrower loyalty. An effectiveness assessment revealed that government support, while nominally free, is associated with high transaction costs, bank lending is optimal for long-term investments with collateral, and cooperatives are most effective for quickly meeting short-term needs. The conclusion formulates recommendations for various categories of agricultural producers and outlines areas for improving the institutional environment, including the development of guarantee mechanisms, simplified grant reporting, and support for agricultural cooperation.
The article presents the results of the analysis of institutional shifts in the organizational and legal forms of economic entities in relation to existing government programs, and identifies some key aspects of legal regulation in the field of functioning of modern agricultural entities. The factors that have a direct impact on the choice of organizational and legal forms of agricultural enterprises are identified. The comparative characteristics of organizational and legal forms in the organization of the agro-industrial complex are highlighted. The structure of agricultural organizations by forms of management is considered, which is comparable to the new conditions and main directions and ways of forming a new production paradigm. The main trends in the change of organizational forms in agricultural organizations are shown.