Elanskaya

2026. Vol.11. №3.

Regional differentiation of food security in Russia

Oct 21 2026

Shagaida N. I., Ternovsky D. S., Elanskaya A. A., Shishkina E. A. Regional differentiation of food security in Russia // The Russian Peasant Studies. 2026. V.11. №3. P. 88-114.

EDN: QRIFDW

Annotation

The authors applied an integral index to assess regional food security. Unlike conventional methods using multiple self-sufficiency indicators, the proposed integral index consists of five functional blocks, emphasizing economic food accessibility as the core component. The weights of blocks and their respective indicators were validated through expert assessments. The study is based on the official statistical data and microdata from the Federal State Statistics Service’s Household Budget Surveys (20182023): according to the annual dynamics of the integral index, regions were divided into groups. The core of the leading group consists of the North Caucasus republics, southern regions, and Central Black-Earth Region — their position is determined not only by production volumes but also by the development of small-scale farming, which provides population with diverse and affordable food products. On the contrary, the lagging group (Northern and Far Eastern regions) is characterized by risks of physical unavailability and infrastructural isolation. The dynamic analysis of the index revealed a predominantly positive trend, with 42 regions showing an increase of more than 1 point. However, there is also growing regional polarization as the interregional gap between the highest- and lowest-ranking regions increased by 28%. The study identified dietary imbalance as an interregional phenomenon with few exceptions and no direct correlation with the region’s self-sufficiency or income. The authors argue that there is a need for a transition to differentiated territorial support mechanisms that take the unique vulnerability profiles of each region into account.

Keywords

Regional differentiation, food security, integral index, economic accessibility, balanced nutrition, agricultural exports, food system resilience.

About the authors

Natalia I. Shagaida, DSc (Economics), Head of the Center for Agrifood Policy, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. Vernadskogo Prosp., 82, Moscow, 119571, Russia.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Denis S. Ternovsky, DSc (Economics), Leading Researcher, Center for Agrifood Policy, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. Vernadskogo Prosp., 82, Moscow, 119571, Russia.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Alexandra A. Elanskaya, PhD (Geography), Researcher, Center for Agrifood Policy, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. Vernadskogo Prosp., 82, Moscow, 119571, Russia.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ekaterina A. Shishkina, Researcher, Center for Agrifood Policy, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. Vernadskogo Prosp., 82, Moscow, 119571, Russia. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Full text

Additional Info

Submitted Monday, 02 March 2026
Reviewed Monday, 06 April 2026
Copyright © Auhtors, 2026
Distribution Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

2025. Vol.10. №3.

Russian agricultural policy in the 21st century: From producer support to consumer support?

Oct 22 2025

Elanskaya A. A. Russian agricultural policy in the 21st century: From producer support to consumer support? // The Russian Peasant Studies. 2025. V.10. №3. P. 182-204.

EDN: JVIVTG

Annotation

The article considers the transformation of Russia’s agricultural policy since the beginning of the 21st century. The author applies the OECD methodology to assess structural shifts and make comparisons with other countries. The article shows significant policy changes, although producer support remains its core and market-distorting measures still prevail. However, price support for agricultural producers at the expense of consumers has decreased, while the share of expenditures on general services and consumer support has increased, bringing Russia’s agricultural policy closer to that of developed nations. Although Russia does not provide food assistance as part of its agricultural budget, the state actively stimulates food demand. The author estimates the scale of consumer subsidies aimed at purchasing food products and their role in effective demand for agricultural products. Thus, Russia’s agricultural policy has gradually, albeit slowly, shifted toward greater consumer support.

Keywords

Agricultural policy, export-oriented economy, government program, OECD, producer support, consumer support, support for general services, food assistance, school nutrition programs.

About the author

Alexandra A. Elanskaya, PhD (Geography), Research Fellow, Center for Agrifood Policy, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. Vernadskogo Prosp., 82, Moscow, 119571, Russia.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Full text

XML JATS