Object: The agro-industrial complex of Kazakhstan was and remains a complex universal structure formed at the junction of industrial and agricultural production. The complexity of the development of the agro-industrial complex, as one of the potential drivers of macroeconomics, is determined by the uneven functioning of its constituent industries: agriculture, industries producing means of production for agriculture, processing industries, infrastructure industries, which are interconnected. The purpose of this study is that the authors of the article substantiate the problems and complexity of the agro-industrial complex of Kazakhstan in terms of sustainable development and innovation. The characteristics of the agricultural sector of the economy are systematized.Methods: Review of the works of researchers, analytical, economic and statistical, desk research, systematic approach.Results: The current situation in the agricultural sector of Kazakhstan is analyzed: The dynamics of exports and imports with the EAEU countries are presented; The growth rates of export and import of agricultural products from Kazakhstan are calculated; The structure of Kazakhstani exports is shown, the export of the most important goods is reflected; The dynamics of investments in the agro-industrial complex by type of economic activity is shown; the growth rate of investments in the agricultural sector of the country is calculated. Macro factors influencing the development of the agro-industrial complex of Kazakhstan are shown. Internal factors of the ineffective development of the agricultural sector are identified. The negative consequences of the long-term implementation of the import substitution policy in our country are reflected. The scenarios of the development of the agro-industrial complex of Kazakhstan are considered and their comparative analysis is given.Conclusions: Strategic directions for the development of the agro-industrial complex of Kazakhstan have been developed, aimed at reducing the gap between the agro-industrial complex of developed countries. The results of the above study can contribute to expanding the scope of study on the development of the economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as act as a recommendatory basis for their solution.