Russian Federation
UDC 332.14
UDC 378.4
The article examines current staffing shortages in the Russian agro-industrial sector, driven by demographic shifts, an aging population, gender imbalances, institutional decline, and technological lag. Special attention is given to the decreasing attractiveness of agricultural careers among young people and the mismatch between educational programs and the actual needs of modern agribusiness. As a solution, the authors propose a multidisciplinary agricultural cluster model that integrates education, research, and industry to develop skilled professionals capable of meeting the demands of digital transformation and the bioeconomy. A case in point is the «Smartbiotech» project in the Voronezh region – an inter-university campus uniting higher education institutions, research centers, and agribusiness enterprises. The initiative aims to establish a seamless education-to-employment pipeline, spanning early career guidance, advanced research, and lifelong professional development. The study highlights the critical role of the triple helix model (government, industry, academia) in overcoming institutional and financial barriers. It also analyzes key factors for the long-term sustainability of such clusters, including public-private partnerships, regulatory frameworks, and viable financing models. Drawing on international best practices and regional implementation challenges, the authors argue that multidisciplinary agricultural clusters could serve as a cornerstone for modernizing the agro-industrial sector and ensuring the sustainable development of rural communities.
rural areas, agricultural clusters, personnel support for agriculture, agricultural education, Triple Helix model, technological modernization
1. V sel'skom hozyaystve ne hvataet pochti 150 tysyach specialistov. Parlamentskaya gazeta. http://www.pnp.ru/social/v-selskom-khozyaystve-ne-khvataet-pochti-150-tysyach-specialistov.html (data obrascheniya: 06.04.2025).
2. Kadrovyy golod v agrarnoy sfere: chto delat'?. Delovoy mir. http://delovoymir.biz/nehvatka-kadrov-v-selskom-hozyaystve.html (data obrascheniya: 09.04.2025).
3. Mitrofanov S.V., Kakieva S.S.E., Muklukov D.P. Innovacii v sel'skom hozyaystve: vliyanie na prodovol'stvennuyu bezopasnost' // Ekonomika i upravlenie: problemy, resheniya. 2025. T. 6. № 1 (154). S. 84-90.
4. Orlova N.V., Serova E.V., Nikolaev D.V. i dr. Innovacionnoe razvitie agropromyshlennogo kompleksa v Rossii. Agriculture 4: doklad k XXI Aprel'skoy mezhdunarodnoy nauchnoy konferencii po problemam razvitiya ekonomiki i obschestva. Moskva: Izdatel'skiy dom Vysshey shkoly ekonomiki, 2020. 128 s.
5. Rossiyskomu APK ne hvataet 143-200 tys. rabotnikov. Finmarket.ru. https://www.finmarket.ru/news/6419642 (data obrascheniya: 07.04.2025).
6. Eskerhanova L.T., Zaripova R.S., Mitrofanov S.V. Ustoychivoe razvitie i investicii v zelenuyu ekonomiku: rol' chastnogo i gosudarstvennogo sektorov // Ekonomika i upravlenie: problemy, resheniya. 2024. T. 4. № 3 (144). S. 85-91.
7. Dezhina I. Innovation policy in Russia and the development of university–industry linkages // Industry and Higher Education. 2018. № 32(4). R. 245-252. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1177/0950422218774974
8. ECCP Cluster Panorama 2024. European Cluster Collaboration Platform. http://www.clustercollaboration.eu/knowledge-sharing/publications/document-library/european-cluster-panorama-report-202 (data obrascheniya: 19.05.2025).
9. Education and Science in Agricultural Universities. Forum SPB. 2023. –http://forumspb.com/en/archive/2023/programme/104533/?year=2023&ELEMENT_ID=104533 (data obrascheniya: 26.04.2025).
10. Education at a Glance 2023. OECD. http://www.oecd.org/en/publications/2023/09/education-at-a-glance-2023_581c9602.html (data obrascheniya: 12.05.2025).
11. Science, Technology and Innovation Scoreboard. OECD. http://www.oecd.org/en/data/datasets/science-technology-and-innovation-scoreboard.html (data obrascheniya: 21.05.2025).
12. Wiśniewska-Paluszak J., et al. Cooperation of Agri-Food Clusters with Universities: The Case Study for Poland // AgroFor International Journal. 2020. Vol. 5. No. 2. P. 130-141. DOI:https://doi.org/10.7251/AGRENG2002132W
13. Yakovenko N.V., et. al. Innovative Development of Russian Regions: Assessment and Dynamics in the Context of Sustainable Development // Sustainability. 2024. № 16(3), 1271. DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/su16031271
