Approaches to building and evaluating sustainable agricultural systems in the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union

Abstract

Abstract The paper is devoted to analyzing the issues of agricultural sustainability in the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union, a regional organization connecting Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, and the Kyrgyz Republic. We note that there is no single study that comprehensively addresses this highly important issue; therefore, a review of major approaches to building and evaluating agricultural systems is conducted with the purpose of their further application in the Eurasian Economic Union. The paper distinguishes the total of four approaches and provides their brief overview: (1) a balance between energy and matter in sustainability and innovations; (2) water and soil consumption in agricultural production; (3) potential environmental impacts; (4) energy dimension in sustainable agricultural systems.