Principles of Strategising in the Regional Agri-Food Sector: Industry Aspect

Abstract

Nowadays, the agri-food sector faces a challenge to ensure sustainable consumption, meaning that it is necessary to increase the validity of the methodology for strategic planning in regional agriculture. Each region with its own strategic capabilities can contribute to the solution of this problem. The study specifies the principles of strategic planning for the development of the agri-food sector in order to intensify the use of the regions’ competitive advantages in ensuring the physical and economic accessibility of products. To this end, the research conducted a critical analysis of the Russian strategic system, a synthesis of the experience of other economies, statistical grouping and correlation analysis of the database on agricultural development and state support in constituent entities of the Russian Federation (2017–2021). The analysis revealed weaknesses of the existing theory and practice of planning, namely, the forecasting strategy «from the achieved level» of development and resource constraints in achieving the set objectives. According to the conducted research, the system of strategic planning in the agri-food sector should consider the desired state and methods for achieving it, the suitability of tools and allocation of resources, the involvement of agricultural resources and competitive advantages of producers, as well as the priority of industry development of the agricultural sector over territorial. As a result, the paper identified basic principles of the methodology for strategic planning in regional agriculture, which, on the one hand, should focus on describing the desired state of physical and economic accessibility of products, on the other hand, should determine the optimal course of action to transition to this state. The findings can be included in the key provisions of strategic planning documents for the agri-food sector.