Babych M. Food Security of Ukraine: Theory, Methodology, and Practice

The thesis is devoted to the scientific and theoretical substantiation of theoretical, methodological and applied aspects of formation of food security of Ukraine under conditions of globalization. According to the results of the study, there were identified four scientific approaches to the interpretation of "food security" concept: as a state of system, as a level of access, as a mechanism of provision and by division into hierarchy levels. There was proved the necessity food security's division into levels, as an important component of its provision, which allowed to form the theoretical matter of food security at different hierarchical levels and to determine the corresponding tools and mechanisms for achieving the desired state. It was established that Ukraine created the necessary legal framework (with the exception of the Law on Food Security) regarding the regulation of standards of human rights for sufficient and high-quality nutrition. Along with that, the possibilities for implementing this right, especially in regards to moral and material compensation through competent administrative or judicial bodies, are practically absent for Ukrainian citizens, especially for vulnerable social groups. It was discovered that FAO implements the scientific grounding of monitoring and the principles of informational provision for the assessment of food security at the interstate (global) level. Indicators are classified by four components used to evaluate the food security: availability, accessibility, usage and stability. There were developed methodological fundamentals of formation of criteria for the respective levels of food security. It was established that the state of food security in 2016 in Ukraine by the majority of indicators determined by the Decree of Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine "On some issues of food security" does not meet the established threshold values and norms. There were set such basic criteria necessary for definition of short supply chains' concept. There was systematized the classification of types' characteristics of short supply chains. It has been established that the outstanding features of short supply chains with their respective features are: distance; communication; types of sales; size; quality of products; number of intermediaries; and the level of compromise. There was made a theoretical and methodological substantiation of short supply chains' development in Ukraine through the prism of such features as: rural areas development; the needs of consumers, producers and the community. There were substantiated the reasonability of short supply chains' development at the local level. It has been established that such an approach provides stability of development of the rural territory. Arising from the research of organizational component of short supply chains' development there were: substantiated the organizational elements of short supply chains; systematized internal and external factors of influence upon the development of short supply chains; systematized the opportunities and risks for expansion of short supply chains' performance; identified the issues concerning the development of short supply chains in Ukraine that are necessary to research in terms of the needs of consumers, producers and the community; considered short supply chains as goals of development policy. As a result of study of European experience in short supply chains' support policy, there were systematized the directions of support for the development of short supply chains; there were developed recommendations for the organization and development of short supply chains at different hierarchical levels; there was conducted SWOT analysis of short supply chains; there were suggested five main strategies for the development of short supply chains. It has been proved that food loss and waste have significant negative social and environmental impacts. The environmental consequences of food loss and waste are excessive greenhouse gas emissions and water overconsumption, useless land use. The social consequences of food loss and waste are a restriction on food accessibility. It has been substantiated that the provision of physical and economic food affordability and reduction food loss and waste can significantly reduce poverty, provide gender benefits, and decrease pressure over ecosystem and climate. Reducing food loss and waste can be one of those rare strategies that will have the highest impact at minimal cost. As a result of the study, there were summarized the causes of food loss and waste. There were rationalized the approaches for reduction of food loss and waste for each stage in the food chain, as well as multi-purpose measures. Five recommendations have been developed to reduce food loss and waste.