Doctrine of Food Security in Russia until 2020

In May 2010, the “National Security Concept of the Russian Federation” replaced one of the most important documents in the field of ensuring the life safety of citizens of the Russian Federation - “The National Security Strategy of the Russian Federation”. Part of it was the Food Security Doctrine of the Russian Federation, signed in 2010 by President Dmitry Medvedev. The document determined the agricultural policy for a period of ten years, up to 2020.

General policy

The primary task of each developed state is to ensure the security of its people. Sufficiency of food is one of the three whales that ensure the normal functioning of the people. Even from the school course in economics, they all learned well that the satisfaction of primary needs is a necessary condition for survival and a comfortable existence.

The first discussions about the need to define and legislate the concept of food security and how to ensure it began back in 1990. The initiators of lawmaking were the deputies of the Communist Party. During the discussion, it turned out that everyone had their own idea. According to some, this is a thriving domestic production and the ability to easily do without imported products. Others argued that it was much more important to ensure the affordability of food, not important imported or domestic.

Unable to agree, the government put all versions of documents “to the far box”. Unexpectedly for all, in 2010, on the eve of the presidential election, Dmitry Medvedev approved the Food Security Doctrine, developed by the Ministry of Agriculture. The document determined the priorities for the development of the food market for the long term with the main objective of import substitution.

For information: The doctrine of food security was developed during the reign of Boris Yeltsin. But the president did not approve the document, vetoing it. He explained his decision by the lack of sufficient funds in the country to provide the agro-industrial complex with such resources.

The Doctrine of Expectation and Reality

Briefly describing the goals and objectives set by the Food Security Doctrine, several key points can be highlighted. According to the document, by 2020, Russia should:

• to achieve full satisfaction with the most necessary food products in all areas at the expense of our own resources;
• ensure food availability for the population;
• reduce the share of food expenses;
• guarantee product quality;
• exclude the spread of genetically modified foods;
• replenish the state strategic reserve of products.

At the same time, economists note that of all the control and target tasks in the Doctrine, the first is clearly dominant - self-sufficiency, and such indicators as price and quality are not given so much attention.

According to experts, the food security program has been completed ahead of schedule. By 2018, the problems of internal and external threats to food security were finally resolved. An important role in the development of domestic production was played by negative relations with the West. The introduced sanctions and retaliatory measures taken by Russia contributed to the active development of import substitution.After the introduction of the food embargo, the positive dynamics of the development of the agricultural sector in Russia was noted.

The table shows the food independence thresholds set by the Doctrine and the actual implementation of the plan by early 2018.

Despite the fact that the volume was still not reached for some items, the number of domestic products on the Russian market reached almost 90%. The farm came to life, finally the products of farmers became competitive and in demand. Now the pace of agricultural development allows us to meet the needs of the population and export significant quantities of domestic products.

For information. For the first time, the Doctrine announced a new approach to helping low-income families. It was supposed to introduce targeted assistance to those whose income does not allow them to purchase a certain basket of food. As an option, the idea of ​​issuing coupons was considered. But she never came to life.

Future plans

Analysts and leading economists of the country are similar in opinion that the program has fully fulfilled its function and today has already lost its relevance. During the implementation of agrarian plans, Russia joined the WTO and the EAEU. This means that the document should be revised taking into account trade relations with other countries.

Government officials note that the Doctrine, in the form in which it now exists, does not regulate and does not control such an important indicator as the economic affordability of products. According to statistics, every Russian spends more than a third of his monthly income on products. In some regions, more than half of the salary goes to food. Whereas in developed European countries this indicator stably keeps at the level of 6-8%.

The experts of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy also say that the time has come to create a new food security document. Taking into account the changes that have taken place, they propose to clarify the document and focus on the following points:

• increase export volumes;
• increase food demand;
• provide long-term control over the consumption of fresh water;
• restore domestic seed production;
• pay attention to education and science in the food sector;
• bring regulatory documents in the field of food to the EAEU standards;
• support small and medium business in trade.

Also, among the proposals of experts, the need for road mapping was voiced, during which a detailed scenario plan will be painted to achieve each specific goal.

Read also:

• Import Substitution Program in Russia until 2020
• Inflation forecast for 2020 in Russia
• Gold Price Forecast by 2020

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