INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL AS A STRATEGIC RESOURCE IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR: A DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM

Abstract

The article examines intellectual capital as a strategic resource for the development of Ukraine’s agricultural sector under conditions of limited investment and low innovative activity of enterprises. It is substantiated that the agricultural sector is one of the leading branches of the national economy, making a significant contribution to GDP formation and providing more than 40% of foreign exchange earnings from exports. At the same time, statistical indicators reveal imbalances between production volumes and the level of capital investment, lagging labor productivity compared to European standards, and limited state support for farmers. This necessitates the identification of a new strategic resource capable of ensuring an innovative breakthrough and enhancing competitiveness, namely intellectual capital. The article summarizes the approaches of foreign and domestic scholars to the interpretation of intellectual capital. Three main perspectives are identified—resource-based, innovation-oriented, and institutional—which define its essence as a specific intangible asset, a driver of technological change, and a foundation for partnership relations. Particular attention is given to the contributions of Ukrainian researchers, who emphasize the importance of the educational system, organizational innovations, and cluster-based cooperation for the reproduction and development of intellectual capital in the agricultural sector. The content of the three key components of intellectual capital—human, organizational, and social—is analyzed. It is shown that human capital provides for the training and development of personnel, yet its qualitative potential is constrained by outdated educational programs and the high migration rate of young specialists. Organizational capital is manifested through the implementation of digital technologies, ERP systems, quality standards, and corporate governance, which improve production efficiency and business transparency. Social capital encompasses the development of agricultural clusters, cooperatives, and partnership networks that create an environment for knowledge exchange and innovation diffusion. The article substantiates a multilevel mechanism for the development of intellectual capital, which is implemented at the macro level through state policies and support programs, at the meso level through regional clusters and innovation ecosystems, and at the micro level through enterprise management strategies oriented towards knowledge and sustainability standards.