THE PROCESS OF CLUSTERING AS THE BASIS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AGRI-FOOD SPHERE OF THE REGION

The article has been devoted research of process of clustering as one of the effective ways of formation of economic self-sufficiency of the region. The analysis of conceptual approaches to the formation of clusters in the agri-food sphere of the region have been carried out. The characteristic of the concept «cluster» and the basic principles of their construction has been noted. It has been determined that agri-food sphere (AFS) suitable for using cluster technologies, primarily through the binding of specific areas of production, climatic conditions and other factors of production in a limited area. The attention has been focused on the fact that to achieve sustainable development in the food industry, one of the greatest challenges is to form a complete chain of production, storage, processing and marketing of agricultural and food products. It has been noted that the agri-industrial clustering is the concentration and specialization of agricultural production with the formation in the region of the closed grocery chains on the principles of integration for cluster members' competitive products and increase profitability. It have been shown that under the cluster agri-food sphere should understand the system of enterprises and organizations operating in the sphere of production and realization of finished product, related process flows and complementary, and educational, informational and financial institutions, bodies of regional and municipal administration, institutions, infrastructure, ensuring their optimal and innovative activities, synergies and increased competitiveness. It has been noted that due to the clustered organization of AFS in the region to create the conditions for competitive development of both large and medium and small producers. It has been noted that the specificity of the cluster is for organizations, its a synergistic effect, manifested in enhancement of competitiveness and sustainable development. It has been shown that the cluster approach allows to establish such a mechanism of the relationship (forward and backward economic linkages), which allows to make a profit equivalent to the cost not only to those business entities that implement the final product, but also to all the members of the association.