The purpose of the work is to study the factors and key areas of modernization of the agro-industrial complex of Kazakhstan. In the investigated problematic, the key issues are determining the factors and mechanisms that can affect both the current functioning of the agro-industrial complex and its modernization. The research methodology is based on the application of an institutional approach to substantiating the mechanisms of modernization of the agro-industrial complex. The information base of the study was the legislative and regulatory legal acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan.The research is aimed at analytical generalization and systematization of multifaceted theoretical, methodological, applied research and scientific understanding of the factors and key areas of modernization of the agro-industrial complex. The strengths and weaknesses of the management systems of the agro-industrial complex of Kazakhstan are determined, taking into account the influence of external factors. The conceptual aspects of modeling the organizational and economic mechanism of functioning of the agro-industrial complex in Kazakhstan at the macro- and micro-levels are substantiated with an emphasis on the administrative (managerial), financial and economic and material and technical groups of factors. The study made it possible to identify the most significant factors in the modernization of the agro-industrial complex of Kazakhstan at the republican and regional levels. On the basis of the identified factors, the key directions of modernization of the agro-industrial complex are proposed and substantiated.The conclusions of the study may be of interest to government authorities in the field of the agro-industrial complex in the process of developing the agro-industrial policy of Kazakhstan, preparing program documents for the development of the agro-industrial complex of the republic; as well as for scientists, doctoral students and undergraduates engaged in research on the topic.