Problems of implementing the sustainable development concept in the agricultural sector of Ukraine’s economy

Abstract

The transition to the principles of sustainable development in the agricultural sector of the economy is one of the most urgent and difficult. The reason for this is the greatest dependence of agriculture on environmental conditions compared to other branches of material production. The economic sustainability of agricultural production should be understood as the process of stable growth in the production of agricultural products - agricultural raw materials and products of their processing. This can be achieved only by expanding sales markets. Continuous improvement of labor productivity due to the introduction of technical and technological innovations in the production process is an indispensable condition for increasing the segment of Ukrainian manufacturers in the global market. The social sustainability of agricultural production should be understood as the sustainable development of rural areas and the provision of reliable physical access to food for the country's citizens. The sustainable development of rural areas of Ukraine is the cessation of depopulation, the preservation of the network of rural settlements, the restoration of their social infrastructure, the provision of everyday amenities that are not inferior in terms of quantitative and qualitative characteristics to similar ones in urban settlements, etc. Environmental sustainability of agricultural production is the use of natural resources, primarily land, which allows meeting the needs of the current generation for safe, high-quality food and ensures the profitability of economic activity without harming the ability of future generations to meet similar needs. The Ukrainian economy is experiencing a recession caused by russian military aggression. Under such circumstances, it is impossible to ensure the transition of agricultural production to the principles of sustainable development at the same time in all components – economic, social, and ecological. It is expedient to apply an approach according to which, carrying out certain measures aimed at the practical implementation of the concept of sustainable development, there will be a priority that depends on the state of the national economy. Keywords: sustainable development, production, rural areas, food security, plowed land, soil fertility, water resources, agrochemistry, biological diversity, state of the economy, priority.