TRENDS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FOOD INDUSTRY IN THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA IN THE CONTEXT OF ENSURING FOOD SECURITY

Abstract

In the Republic of Armenia, the food industry is considered one of the key sectors of the economy, whose primary objective is to provide citizens with high-quality food products, as food represents a basic necessity, and both its quality and quantity determine people’s health and intellectual capacity.
In terms of essential food products (such as wheat, vegetable oil, sugar, and certain types of meat products) RA faces issues of self-sufficiency, which are compensated through imports. The food industry addresses food security challenges while simultaneously generating added value and creating new jobs. The food production sector is directly linked to agriculture, whose inherent risks inevitably affect the efficiency of the food industry.
The efficiency of the food industry also depends on the social status of the population. Due to insufficient financial resources, there is no demand from consumers for safer food.
The development of the food safety sector is one of the key processes within the agrarian policy implemented in the Armenian economy. Its goal is to ensure consumers are provided with high-quality and safe food products and to guarantee food security.
The relevance of this topic is determined by the importance of this issue.
The main objective of the article is to study the current state of the food industry in the Republic of Armenia.
The research was carried out using sectoral study methods, as well as descriptive, analytical, and statistical data analysis approaches.
As a result, practical recommendations are presented, including:
•Improving sectoral legislation and aligning it with internationalstandards;
•Ensuring control at all stages of the food industry;
•Implementing a system of continuous professional training forspecialists;
•Increasing the level of public awareness among the population.