Development of the world economy requires energy supply, which under stable growth must be based on alternative energy resources. Bioenergy is an integral part of energy security supply in volatile countries. It can satisfy a considerable part of energy demand of agribusinesses and other companies as well as facilitate problem-shooting in energy, ecological and social sectors in some regions. Enhancing bioenergy in Ukraine is one of the strategic ways in the development of the alternative energy sector, taking into account high volatility of the country and significant potential of biomass available for energy production. This research intends to determine conditions and mechanisms of development and functioning of bioenergy clusters based on preliminary specification of the bioenergy potential of the territories, taking into account modern marketing approaches. This article contains evaluation of the bioenergy production growth in countries such as China, Germany, France, the USA, Canada, Brazil and Ukraine. The feasibility of the cluster approach for Ukrainian bioenergy development has been proved. In order to combine Ukrainian regions according to all types of energy resources the authors applied the method of clustering analysis. The key point of the method implies that, based on the given set of indicators which are defined as the main characteristics of the object, every object of the population belongs to a similar class. Therefore, in order to study the efficiency of usage of bioenergy resources in a particular region, it is necessary to classify a set of indicators to identify standard forms. To systemize Ukrainian regions, the Isodata algorithm Isodata, based on the types of the economic and energy potential of biomass, is taken into account. To implement the analysis, the following indicators are considered: the biomass energy potential of primary cell waste, the biomass energy potential of trimming, the biomass energy potential of refining, the energy potential of wooden biomass, the mold biomass potential, the energy potential of bioenergy crops, the corn energy potential (biogas). Market players organize groups with regard to their industries, territories and other factors, namely clusters which are likely to become effective tools in while carrying out scale projects under tough competition. In the minor energy sector cooperation between research and manufacturing enterprises, which satisfies energy needs both of cities and individual customers, is growing. This approach perfectly meets all requirements of the regional development of Ukrainian bioenergy. The main goal of bioenergy clusters is to develop competitive advantages of regions by increasing all types of biomass and biofuel production. This implies the following priorities: creation of a database of agribusiness enterprises, which potentially are members of the cluster and corresponding infrastructure, establishment of marketing communications in order to inform members and potential investors about bioenergy advantages, introduction of regional databases by means of webpages, newsletters, public discussions etc., enhanced vocational training of bioenergy industry employees and investment attraction to finance bioenergy projects. As a result, the authors of the paper propose a classification of Ukrainian regions based on the indicators of the economic energy potential of wastes and energy crops in agribusinesses, which is the basis for cluster formation. Vinnytsia, Kyiv, Poltava, Sumy, Khmelnitsky and Chernihiv regions refer to the first type with the biggest bioenergy potential, which makes it possible to create 2 energy clusters by combining central-west and north-east regions. Such a methodology gives an opportunity to satisfy the needs of the regions and districts which need additional energy resources taken from own biomass. Priority tasks of the bioenergy cluster include: development of the database of agribusiness entities which potentially are the cluster members and corresponding infrastructure, informing members and investors about bioenergy benefits, creation of the regional information database identifying the resources, capacity and the transport system, vocational training, investment attraction in order to implement bioenergy projects. Based on clusters, economic relations build up a competitive and sound investment climate to support the economy, which, in turn, provides high living standards. The authors have defined the procedure for exercising the cluster initiative and determined the structure of marketing support for cluster projects.

The purpose of the article is to assess the impact of restrictive quarantine measures in 2020-2021 related to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic on the rural labor market, the level of employment and the extent of rural poverty. Research methods. The basis for the study were general scientific and economic methods, creative heritage of the classical political economy founders, publications of Ukrainian scientists on the impact of quarantine restrictions related to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, on social and labor relations in rural areas, regulations, data from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine and the State Employment Service, Internet resources and other sources. The monographic approach was used in the analysis of the employment rate dynamics of the rural population, changes in the labor market and the scale of poverty caused by the lockdowns introduction in 2020-2021. Normative and positive approaches are used to highlight the labor potential of rural areas and opportunities for its implementation in a pandemic. A number of abstract-logical techniques allowed formulating intermediate and final conclusions and proposals. Research results. The phenomenon of the category "labor" as a process of conscious and purposeful activity on the transformation of natural and economic factors of production in order to meet human needs is considered. The institutional preconditions of spatial differences in the concentration of jobs in rural and urban areas and the deepening of inequality in their development are highlighted. Changes caused by a number of restrictions on economic activity in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine are analyzed, in the field of the rural population employment by age groups, employment status, unemployment among working-age people, the number of employees who received unemployment status, as well as the workload per vacancy registered with the State Employment Service, the dynamics of its provision of services to rural residents. Public opinion that in the employment and rural labor market due to non-compliance with quarantine restrictions on economic activity, technological features of agricultural production and lower density, the rural population suffers less from quarantine measures is refuted. As a result of the introduction of two all-Ukrainian lockdowns in 2020–2021, the number of employed rural population decreased by 361 thousand people, or by 7%, of them employed - by 198 thousand and self-employed - by 153 thousand. The unemployment rate for this period also increased by 1.7 percentage points, or 11.5%. In April-May 2021, almost 120,000 workers received the status of unemployed dismissed from agricultural, forestry and fisheries enterprises, or one in five of the total in the economy. In addition, the number of applicants for one vacancy in rural areas has doubled, while reducing the financial capacity of the State Employment Service, especially with regard to the implementation of active forms of employment recovery. An integral consequence of quarantine restrictions was the spread of poverty among the rural population and the further social exclusion of people with unprotected self-employment. Scientific novelty. Methodological approaches to assessing the negative impact of quarantine restrictions related to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic on rural employment, the rural labor market and the well-being of rural households have been further developed. Practical significance. The results of the impact of quarantine restrictions on employment and the rural labor market in 2020-2021 may be taken into account when developing measures to support micro and small businesses and self-employed agricultural workers in extreme conditions of society, such as a pandemic. Tabl.: 3. Figs.: 5. Refs.: 35.

The purpose of the article is to carry out an analytical assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the level of food security in Ukraine. Research methods. The research was based on general scientific and economic methods, the creative heritage of the founders of economic science, publications of Ukrainian and foreign scientists on the impact of quarantine restrictions related to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic on the level of food security of the country, regulatory legal acts, data from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, electronic resources and other sources. The monographic approach is used to analyze the dynamics of the actual consumption of agri-food products and the level of food independence for individual agri-food products. Normative and positive approaches are used to highlight real risks and threats to food security. A number of techniques of abstract-logical tools made it possible to make a scientific and applied generalization of the material presented, to formulate intermediate and final conclusions and proposals. Research results. An analytical assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the consumption of agri-food products and the level of food independence for individual agri-food products has been carried out. It has been proven that Ukraine produces enough food to ensure healthy nutrition for citizens. It has been determined that due to the low purchasing power of the population, groups of citizens with low incomes have limited access to essential agricultural and food products. In the medium and long term, there will be a shortage of food resources and global food inflation, the situation in agricultural markets will remain unstable, and trade will continue to develop under the influence of not only competition, but also political factors. Scientific novelty. The theoretical and methodological provisions, scientific, methodological and practical approaches to determining the factors of influence of quarantine measures and the spread of COVID-19 to the level of food security of the state have been substantiated. Assessing the impact of quarantine measures and the spread of COVID-19 on food security made it possible to identify the main risks of ensuring the country's food security. Practical significance. The applied aspects of the study can be taken into account in the formation of programs for the socio-economic development of the agri-food sector of Ukraine, which will increase the effectiveness of state initiatives aimed at ensuring food security of the state and increase the country's readiness for force majeure threats. Tabl.: 7. Figs.: 3. Refs.: 17.

О. М. Могильний, д. е. н., професор ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9802-1701 М. В. Калінчик, д. е. н., професор, ТОВ "Науково-виробниче підприємство "ВінМікс-Софт" ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6240-4479 О. Ю. Грищенко, завідувач сектором інформаційного забезпечення досліджень, Національний науковий центр "Інститут аграрної економіки" ORCID ID:

The relevance of the study is due to the formation of the rent-seeking model of the agricultural sector, the dominance of the raw material structure of export and the related socio-economic problems that have escalated to the scale of national security in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The purpose of the research is to identify cause-and-effect relationships of structural distortions of the agricultural sector and justify the state regulatory policy aimed at strengthening its sustainability. The methods of empirical observation, expert evaluations, dynamic series of statistics, monographic, critical analysis, graphic tools, statistical database processing, system-structural processing of material, abstract-logical and other tools. The scale of destruction of assets of the agricultural sector and ecology as a result of Russian aggression was revealed. The institutional prerequisites for structural distortions in the agricultural sector are substantiated. The dynamics of export-import operations of the agricultural sector and alternative possibilities in the international division of labour to increase its efficiency are highlighted. Measures to restore animal husbandry by activating micro and small businesses, establishing equivalent relations of market counterparties and their observance of virtuous practices have been developed. The practical significance is reflected with a proposal on overcoming the protracted crisis in animal husbandry through an inclusive approach to the realization of the potential of micro, small, and medium-sized farms