SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL AREAS AS AN OBJECT OF RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT
Authors:   Institute of Agrarian Problems of RAS, Semenov S.N. , Rubtsova V.N. ,   Institute of Agrarian Problems of RAS
Published: February 2021

The formation of the concept of sustainable and competitive development of rural areas on the basis of a balanced socio-naturaleconomic space is studied by the authors as an object of research and management. The purpose of the article was to study scientific prerequisites as the basis for developing the concept of a balanced socio-natural-economic space of the agroindustrial complex and rural areas as a condition for their competitive and sustainable development. The tasks of the research include a critical analysis and the development of a system of categories that ensure implementation of the research goal. The ideas of the foreign scientists, accepted by the international scientific community, are generalized and adapted to the purpose of the study. These include the need to resolve the problem of sustainable development of sociobiotechnical systems in the face of global threats and risks to humanity; taking into account and reducing the risks in the developing harmonious relations between natural and social environments due to the formation of a global information space; scientific substantiation for the role of clusters in forming the competitive advantages of the countries; substantiation of the importance of digital economy in modern agriculture. Basing on generalization of the theoretical and practical provisions of the concept of agriculture multifunctionality in reproducing goods and public goods, a methodology has been developed that allows to identify and scientifically substantiate the role of a balanced socionatural-economic space of the agro-industrial complex and rural areas as the basis for their competitive and sustainable development. In the research methodology, an interdisciplinary integrated approach was used, within the framework of which the main theoretical and applied directions of the formation of a balanced, sustainable and competitive socio-natural-economic space of the agro-industrial complex and rural areas were identified. The use of a systematic approach made it possible to scientifically substantiate the state policy priority directions for creating a sustainable and competitive socio-natural-economic space in the agro-industrial complex and rural areas. As part of the study, a terminological and expert analysis was carried out on the material of the current regulatory acts of the Russian Federation. The article deals with the issues of sustainable development of the agro-industrial complex and rural areas as an object of research and management. The main current challenges in the spatial development of the rural areas in Russia are identified. The author's interpretation of the category “socio-natural-economic space of the agro-industrial complex and rural areas” has been substantiated. A new trend of radical changes in agro-industrial policy in the field of spatial development of the productive forces of the agroindustrial complex is revealed and scientifically substantiated. New approaches to assessing the competitiveness of rural areas as one of the targets of their sustainable development have been identified. It was recommended to include in the concept of sustainable development of rural areas new categories “agro-space” and “healthy food”. The main result of the study was the confirmation of the author's hypothesis and the acquisition of new knowledge about the availability of scientific prerequisites that allow developing a new concept of competitive and sustainable development of the agro-industrial complex and rural areas on the basis of a balanced socio-natural and economic space. The conclusion is substantiated that the competitive and sustainable development of the agro-industrial complex and rural areas can be effectively formed and supported through the use of strategic management. The practical result of the study, which can be applied in management activities, is the methodological approaches proposed by the authors to the implementation of strategic management of sustainabl