Food Security in Ukraine and the Transformation of the Agricultural Market: Interrelationships and Challenges Posed by Global Threats

Abstract

The article examines the interrelationship between food security and the level of development of the agricultural sector in Ukraine in the context of global challenges and military threats. The main focus is on the etymology of the concept of “food security”, its evolution in international and national legislation, as well as contemporary approaches to defining its components. The main trends in the functioning of the agricultural sector are analysed, particularly in the context of destabilising factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and the war with Russia. Key problems are identified: disruption of logistics supply chains, complications in the sowing campaign, reduced yields, restricted access to international markets, and loss of infrastructure. Particular attention is paid to agricultural export indicators, which, despite significant losses, remain a determining factor in Ukraine's macroeconomic stability and integration into the global economic space. It has been proven that the agricultural sector is the strategic basis for food security, ensuring the satisfaction of domestic demand, the formation of foreign exchange earnings and the strengthening of Ukraine's position as one of the world's leading suppliers of grain and oilseeds. It is shown that food security encompasses three interrelated aspects: availability, access and consumption, each of which directly depends on the effectiveness of agricultural production development and state support policies. The prospects for the development of the agricultural sector, particularly in the field of crop production and oilseed seed production, as well as the importance of humanitarian initiatives such as “Grain from Ukraine” for strengthening the country's international image, are substantiated. The importance of adapting agricultural policy to EU standards, developing innovative technologies and providing systematic support to agribusiness as necessary conditions for ensuring sustainable development and strengthening food security in Ukraine and the world as a whole is emphasised.