Agricultural sector development and elasticity of its links with the food security level

Abstract

Purpose. The purpose of the article is the assessment of the countries’ food security level and its connection with the agricultural sector results.
 Methodology / approach. The methodology for calculating the food security level is proposed by international organizations, national authorities, and individual researchers. Due to the fact that food security is a complex flexible concept and cannot be limited to the determination of one separate indicator, we propose to calculate a complex general indicator of food security level using the integral taxonomic estimation method and compare its results with those which provided by international organizations, in particular the Global Food Security Index developed by Economist Impact and supported by Corteva Agriscience and Food Security Index developed by Deep Knowledge Analytics. 
 Results. The article proposes the calculation of countries’ food security level using the integrated rating evaluation method and comparing its results with the results provided by different international organizations, identification of problematic local components of food security, and improving food security mechanism. Correlation coefficients and multivariate regression of dependence of global food security index on affordability, availability, quality and safety, sustainability and adaptation are presented. Functions of subjects of different levels of the hierarchy during interaction to ensure food security are considered. Components of food security ensuring mechanism, which will lead to innovations in food security, are proposed. The obtained results show that the availability of large fertile land and labor resources in the country, and the presence of favorable natural and climatic conditions for farming are insufficient for the high food security level, so it is also necessary to ensure food infrastructure in the country, the concern of the authorities for the citizens standard of living, ensuring political stability, etc. 
 Originality / scientific novelty. The level of food security is calculated and compared with the results of international organizations, using the maximum set of publicly available indicators, which include systems supporting food production, food distribution and supply chains, and food consumption indicators. The indicators that have the greatest impact on the food security level were identified, which will make it possible to influence these indicators timely to ensure a sufficient and acceptable food security level. 
 Practical value / implications. Timely research of ensuring food security, which depends mainly on agricultural products and is implemented through the possibility of purchasing food, taking into account its price, purchasing power, and availability in the appropriate quantity and quality will lead to social stability, meeting the food necessity, the country's independence from imports, the development of its food production, the creation of reserves to stabilize food security in an emergency, unforeseen circumstances in the future. The results of the research can be useful both for agricultural enterprises and for the authorities, which must pursue a balanced state agricultural policy, take care of farmers’ financing, timely resource provision, and ensure a stable, accessible, sufficient, safe, and balanced nutrition level of the population.