Agro-industrial Regions Research Articles

RISKS AND THREATS OF THE ALTAI REGION ECONOMY AND SOCIAL SPHERE ADAPTATION TO CHANGES IN THE EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT

The article is devoted to the study of the regional socio-economic systems' reactions to changes in national macroeconomic parameters. The features of the agro-industrial regions' economy and social sphere adaptation are revealed. The main problems of the development of agro-industrial regions, characterized by peripheral position, are disclosed. The characteristic of restrictions, risks and threats to their development is given. On the example of the Altai Territory, an attempt to comprehensively consider key challenges to the development of the region.
 In the field of economics, the following are identified as threats:
 — de-industrialization of the region economy;
 — limited reproductive capabilities;
 — a significantly deeper fall in labor productivity compared with Russia;
 — lack of conditions for ensuring modernization and qualitative changes in the region economy.
 The three most acute problems in the sphere of population incomes are outlined: low income level; insufficient growth rates; poverty and excessive income inequality.
 The most important demographic risks of the sustainable development of the Altai Territory are revealed: population reduction, aging, and imbalances in resettlement.

Research of local immunity components as part of complex diagnostics of peripheral territories

The article provides the solution to the heuristic problem of formation and practical approval of methodology for local immunity components’ research within a complex diagnostics of peripheral territories of agro-industrial regions located in southern Russia. This sphere of scientific-methodological research is relevant due to the need for finding internal reserves for territorial development by applying opportunities associated with image, reputation, trust, and safety. The article presents the elements of methodological approach allowing to estimate local immunity within a complex of system diagnostics of peripheral territories’ viability determining scientific novelty and authors’ contribution to the methodology of spatial analysis. In shaping the research methodology, we relied on the content analysis techniques enabling to draw several conclusions regarding the impact of peripheral localization of territory on its overall socio-economic perception by the population acting as key economic agents. Furthermore, content analysis strengthens the heuristic capacity of sociometric empirical methods in diagnosing attribute indicators and parameters of territorial development. For these parameters, we highlighted the following: population motivations for migration, capacity for social sustainability of territories, population passivity and activity in the global network space, and nature of relations between the local population and the place of residence. The results of diagnosing empirically characterize “local immunity of peripheral territory” institution reflecting its capacity for future survival.

Economic Security Index as a Tool to Assess the Development of Agroindustrial Regions

The paper discusses a comprehensive approach to assessing regional economic security based on three main areas of regional development: the state of the region’s economy, its social sphere, and its finance. The present article is aimed, first of all, at presenting the practical possibilities of using the economic security index for tasks such as identification of regional problems and assessment of the actions of regional authorities. For this purpose, the authors introduce a definition of regional economic security, the principle of calculating the integral index, and the method of assessing economic security. The practical aspects of measuring regional economic security on the basis of the proposed integral index are considered. The mathematical apparatus for calculating the integral index of economic security allows one to study regional development in dynamics, and to build reasonable models and forecasts, which makes it possible to approach the problem of regional development much more objectively in terms of government resource distribution. In this connection, it is proposed to use the method of forming and evaluating the integral index of economic security as a key tool of regional management, namely as a method of assessing the quality of management; assessing the consequences of decisions; identifying the lagging areas of economic, social or financial spheres of a region; and forecasting socio-economic development for individual regions and federal districts.

Development of agricultural regions in the conditions of rational import substitution policy

The article is devoted to the consideration of the peculiarities of the development of agrarian-industrial regions in the conditions of the implementation of the policy of rational import substitution of food products under the sanctions pressure of Western countries. The object for the study is socio-economic relations arising in the process of implementing the strategy of rational import substitution in the agrarian-industrial region. The main statistical indicators of the activities of the agro-industrial complex (AIC) in Russia are analyzed. Also, the main problems faced by the regional cluster of the AIC are identified. The factors constraining the development of agro-industrial regions and the intensification of points of economic growth in the regions are systematized. A special attention is paid to the theoretical and methodological foundations of evaluation of the points of economic growth of the regions focused on the development of the agricultural sector. As a result of the study, it can be concluded that sustainable balanced development requires a policy of proactive import substitution, focused on emerging new markets, aimed at improving the economic security of the Russian economy in the global market segments.

Economic efficiency of the integrated formations functioning in the regional agriculture

The study was conducted to determine the financial sustainability, profitability of activities, efficiency of using fixed assets, land, labor, independently managing agricultural enterprises and organizations that are part of agricultural holdings. The stages of creation and transformation of integrated formations are highlighted in the papers. The authors describe the experience of the functioning of agricultural holdings in the Altai region, which is one of the main agro-industrial regions of Russia. The prevalence of integrated formations of organizations of the agro-industrial complex, state, and municipal administration in the structure of head companies was revealed. Based on the annual financial statements of more than 750 agricultural organizations in the region, a number of financial and economic indicators were calculated. It was revealed that self-managing entities were characterized by higher efficiency in the use of labor, fixed assets, agricultural land and financial stability, having a more diversified industry sector than the agricultural holdings did. Similar results contradict the management practices of most regions of Russia, in which the membership of agricultural organizations to agricultural holdings leads to an increase in the economic efficiency of resource use and financial condition.

Biorefining and industrial symbiosis: A proposal for regional development in Brazil

The consolidation of the biorefinery concept has the potential to contribute to the sustainable development of agro-industrial regions, particularly in developing countries. The industrial symbiosis (IS) approach can leverage this potential through industrial cooperation, fostering new businesses, innovation and job creation coupled with reduced environmental impacts. We argue that coupling the biorefinery concept and the IS approach would invigorate traditionally agricultural regions, relying on endogenous vocation to promote sustainability. The purpose of this study is to examine the potential for development of an agro-industrial symbiosis network (ISN) from the construction of a biorefinery in the Norte Fluminense region (Brazil) – a region that has become highly dependent on oil & gas revenues but still has a tradition in agriculture and agro-industry. In this paper, we present the scenario analysis performed to design the agro ISN and an initial quantification of potential benefits. Four scenarios were developed (reference, short, mid and long terms) with the support of a synergy matrix and material flow analysis. Eighteen waste streams were identified and sixteen were addressed through the scenarios. In the long-term scenario, 14 productive activities could compose the agro-industrial symbiosis network, 8 of them as newcomers. “Quick-wins” were identified as residues in the reference scenario (CO2, fusel oil and used yeast) that could be absorbed by industries currently operating in the region. The emission of respectively 350 thousand and 55 thousand tonnes per year of solid waste and CO2 would be avoided in the long term. Also, the production of succinic acid would provide additional revenue of at least US$19 per tonne of bagasse, adding higher value to the feedstock in comparison to electricity production. This study can prompt current recycling regulation towards multi-sectorial arrangements, which can better contribute to regional resilience than the single-sector reverse logistics’ arrangements that became recently mandatory with the National Policy on Solid Waste.

Типологизация региональных рынков труда

The article considers the disparities in the development of labour markets in the Volga Federal District. The method for the regions’ typology is proposed, which is based on the analysis of the employed population concentration in the sectors of economy using the index of localization, which allows presenting the labour market of the Volga Federal District as the sum of four segments: agroindustrial, industrial, mixed and service. The comparison of the obtained typology of the regional labour markets with the labour market indicators was carried out based on the analysis of unemployment level and duration, levels of employment and economic activity. According to the results of this comparison, the regions which belong to the group with industrial labour market have the best positions at the labour market. Agroindustrial regions and regions with mixed labour markets, where the share of employment in the primary sector of the economy is large enough, have the greatest level of unemployment and the lowest level of employment. Thus, if the structure of regional labour demand has a large share of agricultural labour force than all other things being equal the risk of unemployment in the region increases.

Path Dependence and the Modernisation of Agriculture: A Case Study of Aragon, 1955–85

AbstractThis paper explains how technological developments and changes in production encouraged and drove the processes of agricultural modernisation that occurred in the second half of the twentieth century, taking the region of Aragon in north eastern Spain as a case study. The main agricultural macro-variables reveal a surge in output, coincident with a far-reaching restructuring of production, in which livestock and animal feeds played a key role. The relative success of this high speed agricultural transformation was largely due to technological progress and the development of Aragon's trade links before 1936. Meanwhile, the earlier development of irrigation schemes, the capitalisation of farms and experimentation with different seed varieties allowed the region to adapt quickly to the new Green Revolution technologies that came to the fore after 1950. At the same time, established trade links allowed a swift transition to livestock and related produce destined for fast developing agro-industrial regions, like Catalonia and Valencia. As in other countries, technological and trade path dependency also explain the polarisation of agricultural development within Aragon itself, and in particular the success of the provinces of Zaragoza and Huesca in contrast to failure and depopulation in Teruel. The experience of Aragon may thus be useful to understand the dynamics of other less developed regions currently in the throes of transformation.

Place, Taste, or Face-to-Face? Understanding Producer–Consumer Networks in “Local” Food Systems in Washington State

In an increasingly globalized food economy, local agri-food initiatives are promoted as more sustainable alternatives, both for small-scale producers and ecologically conscious consumers. However, revitalizing local agri-food communities in rural agro-industrial regions is particularly challenging. This case study examines Grant and Chelan Counties, two industrial farming regions in rural Central Washington State, distant from the urban fringe. Farmers in these counties have tried diversifying large-scale processing into organics and marketing niche and organic produce at popular farmers markets in Seattle about 200 miles away. Such strategies invoke the question, “How are ‘local’ agri-food networks socially and geographically defined?” The meaning of what constitutes “local” and/or “sustainable” systems merits consideration in the linking of these rural counties with distant urban farmers markets. Employing historical, in-depth interview and survey research, we analyze production and consumption networks and the non-market systems that residents in these counties access for self-provisioning and food security.