The publication is a brief analytical review of the use of mineral fertilizers in the main grain-sowing regions of Kazakhstan. The goal is to analyze the current state of their application in the Republic of Kazakhstan and grain regions, to identify the main hindering factors to develop recommendations for solving the existing problems. Methods - general scientific, analysis, synthesis, expert-logical assessment. Results – the article contains data on the consumption of fertilizers for the total area of arable land and for all categories of farms in the Northern region, the annual scientifically justified rate of the need, the production volume of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers. It has been determined that production of plant protection products is done at nonspecialized facilities. Many manufacturers are not interested in certification of their products due to the small market volume. The study confirms the underdevelopment of the mineral nutrition optimization system in the republic due to the high cost of imported mineral fertilizers and the lack of domestic industrial capacities for their production to meet the needs of the domestic market. One of the important problems, as the authors note, is the lack of the necessary material and technical base for conducting soil agrochemical analysis. Based on the current situation, Kazakhstan annually lacks about 10 million tons of high-quality wheat. Conclusions – introduction of precision farming technology, construction of new agrochemical laboratories, and training of relevant personnel are recommended. To receive subsidies, it is necessary to introduce a mandatory requirement for the availability of agrochemical cartogram. In the global consumer market, there is a growing trend in demand for organic products, which opens up prospects for the development of domestic production of environmentally friendly products and their export.

The purpose is an analytical study of the issues related to the changing of the course of agricultural policy of the European Union on the example of the Federal Republic of Germany. Methods – monographic, comparative analysis, abstract-logical. The dynamics of the structure of the EU budget for 1993-2027 is considered. Since 1993 to 2006 the share of agriculture on average accounted for about 40% of budget funds, in 2006-2020 – about 30%, and for 2021-2027 – 23.6% is provided. Results – the authors note that in the European Union there are two components of state support for agricultural sector of economy. The first one implies direct payments to commodity producers, which are provided for one hectare of agricultural land if farmers meet the relevant conditions. This also includes general market mechanisms applied to certain types of agricultural products. For example, reimbursement of export costs and storage costs. The second component is used as an additional tool for solving AIC problems. Since 1999 it includes targeted programs for financing sustainable and environmentally friendly production and development of rural areas. Conclusions – in recent years, the bulk of government subsidies (up to 70%) directed to support the income of agricultural producers accounted for direct payments. In the earlier period, the structure was radically opposite. For example, in the early 1990, market expansion measures were 91%, direct contributions were 9%, and there was no cash allocation for improving rural infrastructure. The reverse side of this process is that agro-industrial complex is largely dependent on direct payments.