Innovative farms’ activity in the conditions of digital transformation of the agro-industrial complex of Russia 

Tatiana E. Kuznetsova, Candidate of economic sciences, associate professor, deputy head of the sub-department of digital economy, Penza State University (40 Krasnaya street, Penza, Russia), E-mail: kuznetzovat2007@yandex.ru
Natalya V. Schastlivaya, Candidate of economic sciences, associate professor of the sub-department of digital economy, Penza State University (40 Krasnaya street, Penza, Russia), E-mail: Nataly-Schastlivay@yandex.ru
Valeriya A. Tolmacheva, Postgraduate student, Penza State University (40 Krasnaya street, Penza, Russia), E-mail: lera0102.96@mail.ru 

330 

10.21685/2072-3016-2021-4-15 

Background. The main task of the digital transformation of Russia’s agro-industrial complex is to increase the efficiency of production and marketing activities of agricultural producers. Farms, the development of which is impossible in modern conditions without the use of digital technology, occupy a special place. Today, farming occupies a priority position in the agriculture of Russia: every year there is an increase in production in all areas of activity. For example, farms ensure the production of the third of the total volume of grain crops. Moreover, during the pandemic, it was farming that managed to achieve maximum growth in agriculture among other agricultural producers. The aim of the study is to analyze the current state and prospects of innovative activity of farms in the conditions of digital transformation of Russia’s agroindustrial complex. Materials and methods. The work is based on the materials of Penza region, taking into account the analytical review of the experience of using digital technologies by farms of Moscow, Saratov, Ulyanovsk, Belgorod and Rostov regions. The results were obtained by conducting a sur-vey of 200 heads of farms of Penza region in 2020 (sample representativeness of 10 %). Results. The world practice of innovative development of farming indicates the active in-volvement of farms in the process of digital transformation of the agroindustrial complex of Russia. However, in Russia the innovative development of farming is hampered by limited financial resources and insufficient strategic direction of farmers’ thinking. The analysis of innovative activities of farms of such a subject of the Russian Federation as Penza region (according to the results of the survey of managers) has shown that only about one third of them actively implement innovative technologies at all stages of the reproduction process. At the same time, the remaining farms have great innovation potential, which they cannot fully realize due to the lack of finances and personnel. Conclusions. To intensify the activities of Penza region, as well as other regions in the implementation of big data technologies, artificial intelligence, blockchain, Internet of things and others, it is necessary, on the one hand, to study and put into practice the successful regional experience of existing farms and developments of research institutions on the digitalization of agriculture, and on the other hand, comprehensive targeted state support of farms, in particular, providing them with benefits in subsidizing, taxation, crediting. 

digital transformation of agriculture, farms, innovation, digital technology, “Smart Farm”, Internet of Things, blockchain 

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