THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO THE FORMATION OF THE MECHANISM OF FOOD TRANSMISSION

Abstract

The article studies the theoretical and methodological approaches to the formation of the food transmission mechanism as a key element of the agri-food market functioning. The relevance of the topic is determined by the need to ensure price stability and food availability in the context of global economic and military challenges, disruption of logistics chains, and increasing market imbalances. The purpose of the article is to study the theoretical and methodological approaches to the formation of the food transmission mechanism in the context of ensuring food security. The methodical toolkit for researching transmission processes is systematized, including general scientific methods (analysis and synthesis, systematic approach), economic-theoretical methods (structural-functional, institutional analysis), methods of information collection and processing (monographic, theoretical generalization). The theoretical essence of food transmission as a process of transmitting price and information signals between the links of the agri-food chain – from agricultural raw material producers through processing enterprises and trade networks to final consumers – is revealed. It is determined that the efficiency of this mechanism is characterized by the speed, completeness, and symmetry of price response at different levels to changes in market conditions. The main factors influencing the functioning of the transmission mechanism are analyzed, including: monopolization of individual market links, transaction costs, time lags, imperfection of contractual relations, state regulation, and the institutional environment. It is substantiated that disruptions in the mechanism's operation lead to price disparity, when producers receive insufficient profits, and consumers are forced to overpay for food. The multi-level nature of food transmission is considered. An important role is assigned to feedback, through which consumer demand influences production volumes and pricing policy at previous stages of the chain. It is determined that the developed theoretical and methodological approaches create a scientifically based foundation for improving the food transmission mechanism in order to ensure price stability, food availability, fair distribution of added value among market participants, and strengthening food security. Prospects for further research are outlined, which consist in an in-depth analysis of the impact of global economic crises, climate change, geopolitical factors, and the latest technological solutions on the stability of transmission links in food systems, as well as in the development of comprehensive models for forecasting price behavior in the agri-food chain under different development scenarios.