THE POTATO CRASH IN PERM KRAI AS A THREAT TO FOOD SECURITY

This article presents the results of research that identified the trends driving the current potato crisis, which threatens the food security of the Russian Federation and its regions, and proposed ways to overcome them. The paper characterizes the post-Soviet period of development of the domestic agro-industrial complex and examines the causes of intra-industry structural shifts in agricultural activity, their positive effects on the economy, and the negative consequences that threaten national food security. A review of contemporary domestic and international economic literature on the topic of the study allowed us to identify global trends and compare them with Russian specifics. In particular, it revealed the divergence of the global focus on increasing potato production through the implementation of innovative technologies for growing, harvesting, and storing crops, while at the same time, potato production has steadily declined in our country. The causes of this phenomenon are examined at the regional level, using the example of the Perm Krai, located in a risky farming zone but possessing competitive advantages and favorable conditions for potato cultivation. The development dynamics of the Perm Krai potato industry were compared with national averages for the post-Soviet period, including sown area, yield, fertilizer application, and gross potato harvest. The analysis revealed worse results relative to the Russian average, confirming the potato crisis in the Perm Krai, which threatens food security. The causes of this situation are identified, and measures for overcoming the crisis in the future are substantiated. The results are addressed to government and industry authorities, the scientific community, and agricultural businesses for their consideration and integration into processes to ensure food security for the country and its regions.