Conditions for increasing the competitiveness of agro-food enterprises

Abstract

Increasing the competitiveness of agro-food sector enterprises from a strategic perspective is inextricably linked to ensuring sustainable development and gaining long-term competitive advantages based on sustainable values and priorities. This implies the need to consider sustainable and environmentally neutral production methods in the management policy of business entities, the result of which should be new competitive products, original in terms of their quality parameters. Competitiveness implies enterprises’ high efficiency and ability to adapt to constantly changing environmental conditions. The level of competitiveness is formed not only at the level of individual producers but also at the level of the agro-food value chain in general and, thanks to the effect of scale and synergy, creates additional inclusive opportunities for improving the competitive positions of producers in the market. World experience has shown that solving these problems is possible by forming a competent, competitive strategy, which must meet the following criteria: the presence of clearly formulated relevant goals; the presence of a forecast of the development of the situation and scenarios for achieving the goal; the presence of a system of management and control of the main business processes. At the same time, the new policy of ensuring competitiveness should be aimed at strengthening the ties between agro-food chains and the market, consumers, and society, considering the interests of all parties. The priorities for achieving the goals of increasing the competitiveness of business entities along with commercial values should be increasing the added value of the agro-industrial production sphere, ensuring stable incomes of all participants in the agro-food chain, improving the use of resources and gradual transition to circular business models; formation of responsible consumer behavior and maximum satisfaction of consumer demand. The high variability of the external environment, the difficulties of identifying numerous and closely interacting factors, risks, and dangers, and the entropy of connections and relationships pose urgent tasks for businesses to form competitiveness as a system of strategies, measures, and technologies for maintaining market share and financial stability. Keywords: competitiveness, environment, agricultural enterprise, agro-industrial sphere, factors, drivers.