Comparative analysis of the current state of food security in Russia and China

The purpose of the article: based on a comparison of existing concepts and a number of quantitative indicators, to identify the features of the current state of food security in Russia and China. Comparative analysis has shown that both countries are moving in the paradigm of national welfare based on achieving self-sufficiency in the consumption of agricultural raw materials and food. Russia applies this criterion to a wide range of commodity groups, China, due to the shortage of land and fresh water, applies it to cereals, which causes its partial import dependence on agricultural raw materials, especially crop production as a source of fodder for domestic livestock. The achieved level of food self-sufficiency in Russia is significantly higher. However, according to criteria such as the values of the global food security index, the average daily consumption of plant and animal proteins by the population, and a number of others, China is ahead of Russia, which retains advantages in terms of food quality. Agriculture in both countries is import-dependent on goods and services from related industries. Country differences in the forms of attracting foreign direct investment in these areas of activity have been identified. The overall level of digitalization of China's agriculture is comparable to Russia's and does not exceed 25%, but a number of breakthrough areas are rapidly developing, including the production of agrodrons; digital platforms and e-commerce, the development of which involves Chinese multinational companies Alibaba Group, GD.com, Pinduoduo. In China, the process of segregation of agricultural raw materials and food products by their production technologies is more intensive. The conclusion is substantiated that there are significant prospects for expanding the complementarity of the agricultural economies of the two countries through cooperation in the field of organic agriculture. It is proposed to expand the understanding of the food security of the Russian Federation by the concept of the security of the agro-industrial system, including the attributes of technological, demographic, and social security.