EVOLUTION OF SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVES ON THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FRUIT AND BERRY SECTOR IN THE CONTEXT OF POST-WAR ECONOMIC RECOVERY

Abstract

The article examines the evolution of scientific approaches to the development of the fruit and berry sector in the context of the transformation of the agricultural economy and the formation of a modern paradigm of sustainable development. It is substantiated that the fruit and berry sector traditionally plays an important role in the structure of Ukraine’s agricultural sector, as it ensures the production of a significant share of fruit and vegetable products, contributes to employment in rural areas, creates added value within agri-food value chains, and provides conditions for the development of the processing industry and the country’s export potential. In the context of current global economic and environmental transformations, the concept of sustainable development is gaining relevance, as it presupposes the integration of economic efficiency of production, environmental balance of agricultural systems, and the social orientation of rural development. The study pays particular attention to the impact of military actions on Ukraine’s agricultural sector. As a result of the research, the main stages in the evolution of scientific approaches to the development of the fruit and berry sector are identified. The first stage, the traditional production and agronomic stage, is characterized by studies focused on increasing the productivity of fruit and berry crops, improving cultivation technologies, and expanding the area of perennial plantations. The second stage is associated with the market transformation of the agricultural economy and a shift in emphasis toward the economic efficiency of production, the development of entrepreneurship, the formation of market infrastructure, and the enhancement of the sector’s competitiveness. The third stage, the innovation and integration stage, is characterized by the implementation of modern cultivation technologies, the development of logistics and processing for fruit and berry products, and the active integration of the sector into global agri-food markets. The further development of scientific thought is associated with the formation of the concept of sustainable development of the agricultural sector, within which the fruit and berry industry is considered a component of environmentally balanced agri-food systems. In this context, particular attention is paid to the rational use of land resources, the development of organic production, the implementation of resource-saving technologies, the adaptation of production to climate change, and the improvement of energy efficiency in agricultural production. It is established that the current stage of sectoral development is characterized by the emergence of a new scientific paradigm addressing the challenges of Ukraine’s post-war economic recovery. It is demonstrated that in the post-war period the key directions for the development of the fruit and berry sector may include innovative modernization of production, the development of regional agri-food clusters, increasing the efficiency of resource use, and deepening the integration of Ukraine’s agricultural sector into the European economic space. The sector's social role in restoring economic activity in rural areas, creating new jobs, and supporting the development of family farms is also of particular importance. Prospects for further research include the development of modern models for the sustainable development of the fruit and berry sector, combining innovative production technologies, digitalization of the agricultural sector, cluster development, and the principles of the circular economy.