PROBLEMS IN DETERMINING METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INNOVATION MECHANISM IN FOOD INDUSTRY ENTERPRISES

The article explores the theoretical and methodological foundations for evaluating the effectiveness of innovation activities in food industry enterprises. The main approaches to assessing the effectiveness of innovation processes are systematized. A comprehensive system of indicators, including the number of registered patents, royalty income, assessment of R&D intensity, and calculation of the carbon footprint, is proposed for evaluating the effectiveness of innovation activities. The article proposes introducing a carbon footprint assessment to consider sustainable development goals and Ukraine’s movement towards the EU. The article analyzes the current state of innovation activity in the Ukrainian food industry, noting the low level of innovation compared to countries like China and the USA. This highlights the need for Ukrainian enterprises to adopt and adapt foreign innovations, hindering investment and the effective implementation of innovation mechanisms. The advantages and disadvantages of different approaches to evaluating innovation activity are discussed. The number of registered patents provides a quick assessment of scientific and innovative development but may not fully reflect the effectiveness of the innovation mechanism. Royalty income indicates the commercial success of innovations and the effectiveness of intellectual property protection, but there is a lack of publicly available data on royalties in Ukraine. R&D intensity measures investment in innovation and the potential for creating new products and technologies. However, the lack of comprehensive statistical data on R&D expenditures in Ukraine poses a challenge to using this indicator effectively. The article proposes the introduction of a carbon footprint assessment as a metric for evaluating the innovation mechanism of food enterprises. Reducing carbon footprint through innovation can confirm their effectiveness, helping Ukrainian companies reduce production costs, create new products, improve processes, and enter EU markets with stricter environmental standards. The article concludes by emphasizing the need for strategically effective innovation mechanisms in the food industry to enhance its competitiveness in the EU market. Stimulating innovation and using alternative methods for evaluating innovation mechanisms, such as assessing the carbon footprint, will provide the impetus for the industry’s development and enable the effective interaction of Ukrainian enterprises in the future EU single market.