Abstract. The purpose of the paper is to study the current state of food security of Ukraine in order to identify the problem areas forming the system of food security in the country. Methodology. Assessment of the current state of the food security in Ukraine is carried out according to the Test Method for determining key indicators of food security, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on 05.12.2007 № 1379 "Some Issues of Food Security" (as amended on 21.10.2011). Results. The article deals with the current state of food security in Ukraine for the next indicators: the daily energy value of the human diet, sufficiency consumption of certain products, the adequacy of supplies of grain in state resources, economic availability of food, differentiation value of food by social groups, market capacity of individual products, food self-sufficiency for a certain product. The study found that the state of Food Security in 2015 in Ukraine satisfied the set threshold values and rules by the majority of indicators. Practical implications. The value of particular indicators, calculated according to 2015 and compared to 1995, positively characterized the dynamics of food security in Ukraine. However, there is a necessity for a balanced state policy of the internal market and the agrarian sector's regulating. Value/originality. It is an obvious fact that it is needed to respect the objectives set out in the Strategy for Sustainable Development "Ukraine-2030" in the directions of development, security, responsibility, and pride.

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The increase of soil fertility based on the definition of patterns of changes in soil processes and the formation of the crop for the use of microbial products and by-products of crops in crop rotation, different tillage systems. Methods. Field, laboratory, computational and statistical. Results. It is determined that the degree of destruction of plant residues of winter wheat for 3 months under the influence of decomposers increased in 2.2 -2.6 times in comparison with the control. The most intense decomposition of plant residues of wheat occurred under the influence of preparations Ekostern and Organik-balans (54.5 and 50.2% respectively); in the control -21.2%. Application of decomposers increased yield of spring barley on 0,01 -0,27 t/ha. For plowing the most effective were the following preparations: Organik-balans, Biodestruktor sterni, and Destruktor tselulozy, which provided an increase of yield on 0.15 -0.27 t/ha. For shallow tillage the best was Organik-balans. Conclusions. Application of the microbial preparationsdecomposers in the Southern Steppe is a pretty effective way to improve the biological activity of the soil and increase crop yields. Their effectiveness is vastly improved with sufficient moisture in the soil, whereby the degree of decomposition of plant residues increased by 2.2 -2.6 times in comparison with the control. In drought conditions, the decomposition of plant residues is less influenced by preparations-decomposers, and greater than the control only on 5.9 -20 absolute percent. The most intensive destruction of plant residues occurs during plowing, when they evenly incorporated throughout the whole depth of the arable soil layer. The use of chisel tillage at the same depth reduces the intensity of mineralization of plant residues on 5.3 -13.7 percent depending on the culture and moisture conditions of the soil, and use of the shallow subsurface tillage -on 18.7 -27.1%.

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Purpose. The study aims to analyze critically the system and functions of specialized agencies, programs and United Nations (UN) funds that ensure the implementation of the second goal of sustainable development (GSD2), to identify the components of global initiatives for the successful implementation of the Zero Hunger Policy. Methodology / approach. The methodological approach of the study are theoretical provisions and practical recommendations for the formation of the food supply system, economic theory, which determines the patterns of food distribution, scientific works of domestic and foreign scientists on sustainable development of the agricultural sector to achieve Zero Hunger. The following methods were used in the research process: statistical (regression analysis of the assessment of factor’s impact on the level of daily energy value of food consumed in households in Ukraine), monographic (mechanism of GSD2 implementation in the global dimension), historical method (the UN’s composition and function in guaranteeing GSD2 implementation), systematic analysis (composition and roles of international institutions within the United Nations in guaranteeing GSD2 implementation), direct analysis and synthesis (areas of FAO’s activities in ensuring the implementation of GSD2 at the national level) etc. Results. The study found that global initiatives for successful implementation of the Zero Hunger Policy are based on three components: regulatory support, the activities of international organizations coordinated by the UN, and the implementation of the GSD2 framework and programs at the national level, which support most countries across the globe interaction with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Originality / scientific novelty. Theoretical provisions regarding global initiatives for the implementation of Zero Hunger Policy have further developed: the main functions of specialized agencies, programs and UN funds that ensure the implementation of GSD2 were systematized, the degree of their spread and influence was determined; it was proved that FAO had a significant potential comparative advantage in assisting countries to meet new challenges in GSD2 monitoring; it was found that the activities of FAO together with partners to ensure global processes for the implementation of GSD2 include different areas. Practical value / implications. The obtained results are important for building a network of institutional and international cooperation for the successful implementation of Zero Hunger government policies.