Strategic advantages of the regions in the development of promising agricultural specialization

The article raises the problem of using the competitive advantages of regions in the implementation of modern agri-food policy. The purpose of the work is to prepare proposals to strengthen the interconnection of strategic advantages and agro-food specialization of the regions. The research is based on the theory of placement and methods of comparative assessment of indicators in regions with national averages. Agri-food policy is considered rational if the degree of localization of production in the subjects of the Russian Federation is influenced by their comparative advantages and ultimately leads to the «desired» level of formation of aspects of food security. A database has been obtained characterizing the comparative advantages of the subjects of the Russian Federation in the strategic development of the agri-food sector for basic foodstuffs (cattle meat, pig meat, milk, eggs, potatoes, vegetables, etc.). It is revealed that the self-sufficiency of regions, rather than strategic advantages, is the guideline for specialization. Grouping regions by localization level has shown that the agri-food policy of regions is often not aligned with the interests of consumers and even producers of products. The author substantiates the measures of state support aimed at activating the comparative advantages of regions in the formation of physical and economic accessibility of products. The results of the study may be useful to participants in territorial planning when making strategic decisions on the spatial development of the agri-food sector.