Development of the dairy industry in the context of the formation of cluster associations of enterprises

Abstract

The article examines the development trends of the dairy industry of Ukraine in modern conditions of the domestic economy. It has been established that the functioning of milk processing enterprises, as a component of the country's food industry, is essential in ensuring food security. The purpose of the article is to study the development directions of the dairy industry in the context of the formation of cluster associations of enterprises. The production of dairy products by enterprises in Ukraine was analyzed. The dairy industry in terms of regions and their specialization in producing dairy products was studied. The analysis of the pre-war period of the operation of the dairy industry shows the negative dynamics of the milk flow to processing enterprises of the food industry. The leaders of the dairy industry in the national dairy market have been identified. An analytical assessment of the dairy industry was carried out, which showed a significant decrease in the production and consumption of dairy products in recent years, which is caused by complex social, economic, and geopolitical factors. The need for the formation of cluster associations was determined as a prerequisite for the sustainable development of the dairy industry and the domestic economy, including at the regional level. Proposals regarding the formation of a cluster association in the dairy industry of the Mykolaiv region were formulated as prerequisites for the post-war recovery of its economic potential. It is worth noting that the main prerequisites for forming cluster structures of the dairy industry in the Mykolaiv region are the availability of production facilities, raw materials, procurement points, sales markets, and qualified personnel. This approach to the development of the dairy industry allows more effective use of available resources, contributing to the post-war restoration of the industry's production potential, increasing production volumes, improving product quality, and expanding exports as a basis for increasing the competitiveness of the national economy and guarantees the food security of Ukraine. Keywords: dairy industry, cluster, association, food safety, development, food industry.