INFORMATION AND CONSULTING SUPPORT OF AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISES AS A BASIS FOR SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT OF THEIR INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT

The article identifies the information and consulting support of agricultural enterprises as an important link between the generators of scientific developments and directly producers of agricultural products. It is proved that the effectiveness of the transfer of research results is determined not only by the level of payback and increase the economic efficiency of the implementation of innovative developments, but also their timeliness. The current state of the system of information and consulting support of agricultural enterprises as a comprehensive systematized measure for the implementation of research results in production and economic processes is analyzed. It is determined that among the whole list of provided scientific and information services, the largest share is given to the provision of individual consultations directly to managers and chief specialists of agricultural enterprises. It is established that during the period 2006–2020 the number of organized and held conferences, meetings, seminars, round tables, courses, schools, exhibitions, auctions, fairs decreased by about half; in addition, the number of Field Days organized and held, as well as the number of media appearances and articles published in newspapers and magazines, decreased 3 times. The main factors that hinder full and effective functioning of the Regional Centers for Scientific Support of Agro-Industrial Production have been identified. It is established that the priority in solving the issue of efficiency and effectiveness of reporting the results of research to agricultural producers should be the creation of the latest effective research and information centers that will accumulate information resources on the latest developments, systematizing them and disseminating best practices depending on the needs of agricultural enterprises and directions of innovative activity.