On the issue of strengthening the food security of the regions by stimulating import substitution

The relevance of the research topic is due to the fact that food security is the most important factor in preserving the statehood and sovereignty of the country, one of the main structural units of socio-economic policy, a necessary condition for the implementation of the strategic priorities of the state, which consist in significantly improving the quality of life of the Russian population through guaranteed living standards. The purpose is to analyze the state policy to stimulate import substitution in the field of strengthening food security based on the assessment of the current state of food security in Russia. Objectives: to characterize the structure, criteria and levels of food security of the regions and the state as a whole; to assess the current state of food security in Russia; to identify the problems of ensuring food security associated with the risks and barriers to the implementation of Russia's food policy; to consider the directions of import substitution as a mechanism for strengthening the food security of the regions and the state. Methodology. In the processing of factual material, traditional scientific approaches were used – dialectical and systemic. The methods of comparison, statistical analysis and ranking were used as research tools. Results. Based on the assessment of the state of food security in Russia in dynamics, it is proved that the government of the Russian Federation has set the regions the task of ensuring the country's food security in advance, before the start of the implementation of the package sanctions policy of the West. This made it possible to implement some areas of import substitution in the agro-industrial complex in the first place. Conclusions. However, the volume of sanctions restrictions that began against Russia in February 2022 again raised the question of strengthening the country's food security. The government began to introduce various financial, logistical and other mechanisms to strengthen food security, but the greatest emphasis was placed on the continuation and deepening of the import substitution policy.