STATE OF INNOVATIVE ACTIVITIES IN THE AGRO-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX AND PERSPECTIVE LINES OF DEVELOPMENT
The objective of the research was to analyze the state of innovative activities in the Agro-Industrial Complex of Russia in general and in Voronezh Oblast in particular and to determine perspective lines of development. The authors discuss the changes that have occurred in the innovative sphere in recent years and analyze the problems and trends in the development of innovative activities in the Agro-Industrial Complex. The peculiarities of innovative processes in agriculture were defined, as well as the obstacles for their implementation. The authors have analyzed the costs of research and development in agriculture and investments into fixed capital across the Russian Federation. It is shown that from 2010 to 2015 the volume of costs of research and developments grew by 53.4% and the relative share of costs of fundamental research increased from 53.6% to 58.9%. At the same time there was an increase in the production of agricultural products by 99.6% over the analyzed period. The authors provide the data that confirms the positive trends in the sphere of implementation of innovations in the farms of Voronezh Oblast. The role of governmental management of innovative activities in agriculture has been discussed. Particularly, the emphasis is put on the importance of the Program of Voronezh Oblast titled «The Development of Agriculture, Production of Foodstuffs and Infrastructure of the Agrifood Market», which ensures the measures for promoting the innovative activities and innovative development of the Agro-Industrial Complex. In accordance with the program an increase in the subsidy-adjusted profitability of agricultural enterprises should be by 17.0% in 2020. Basing on the results of research the authors have identified the main directions aimed at increasing the efficiency of innovative activities in the Agro-Industrial Complex, including by the improvements in the organizational and economic mechanism of management of innovative development in the complex under discussion. It is proposed to establish a center for controlling the innovative development of the Agro-Industrial Complex, which would solve the problems of increasing the efficiency of innovative development at the regional level.