Abstract:

The institutional conditions for the development of agro-food systems at various levels are determined by the quality of the institutional environment, which is a combination of formal and informal rules and limitations, As well as the mechanisms that create the conditions for their observance. Agro-food systems, as a specific type of territorial-sectoral systems, have a number of features that affect the essential characteristics of the institutional environment of their functioning and the organization of their development management processes. The article defines the factors that have significant impact on the structure of the institutional environment of contemporary Russia. Special attention is paid to the consideration of specialized development institutions and the identification of systemic problems that limit the effectiveness of their functioning. It is concluded that under the conditions of low efficiency of existing agricultural development institutions and inconsistencies in the quality of the institutional environment with the needs of agro-food systems, the only effective tool for state influence on the development of the agro-food complex is direct state support for the development of individual industries and territories through the adoption of federal and regional target programs designed within the strategy of national and regional development..