Agricultural Policy and Food Security in Russia

Russia’s agricultural policy has undergone profound transformation since the Soviet era, moving from collectivised agriculture towards a mixed model of private farms, large agroholdings and household plots. The state has progressively adopted a series of multi-year programmes offering subsidies for fertiliser, machinery modernisation and infrastructure development, alongside preferential loans and support for export logistics. These measures have raised national self-sufficiency in key staples such as wheat, sugar and vegetables, yet regional disparities persist, with peripheral areas exhibiting lower productivity and limited access to markets. Food security is now framed by a four-pillar approach—availability, access, utilisation and stability—underpinned by both domestic production capacity and import substitution strategies. Since the imposition of international sanctions, policy has shifted to reinforce resilience through stockpiling, diversification of supply chains and incentives for recultivating abandoned land. The emergence of large agroholdings has improved economies of scale but also prompted concerns over land consolidation, environmental impact and rural employment. Against a backdrop of climatic volatility, demographic decline in rural areas and evolving global demand, Russia’s agricultural strategy seeks to balance export ambitions with the imperative of safeguarding affordable and nutritious food for its population.

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Agricultural Policy and Food Security in Russia publication trend

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Technical terms

Food security: state in which all people have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

Yield gap: difference between the potential crop yield under optimal management and the actual yield achieved by farmers.

Conservation tillage: agricultural practice that minimises soil disturbance and retains crop residues to reduce erosion and enhance soil fertility.

Agroholding: large-scale corporate entity controlling extensive agricultural land and production assets, often encompassing multiple stages of the value chain.

References

1. The potential of Russia to increase its wheat production through cropland expansion and intensification. Global Food Security (2014).
2. The impact of the food embargo on con­sumer preferences and cross-border practices in the Kaliningrad region. Baltijskij Region (2023).
3. Problems and prospects of ensuring food security in Russia in modern conditions. Russian Journal of Management (2020).
4. Export potential of the Russian agricultural sector to the Persian gulf countries. E3S Web of Conferences (2024).