The theoretical and practical directions of development of ecological agriculture in the country are justified, based on the idea of closed cycle, which corresponds to ecological and economic principles. The works of domestic and foreign scientists on this issue were studied. The main economic indicators of agricultural production on the example of Pavlodar region were analyzed: dynamics of gross output of agricultural sector; the number of operating agricultural enterprises and peasant (private) farms; distribution of the land fund by land categories. Information on violation of environmental legislation in the field of land resources protection and on the volume of waste in the industry is provided. The problems that hinder the implementation of the main provisions of greening of production activities in agro-industrial complex are identified. Summarizing the arguments of domestic and foreign scientists, the need to develop and implement the mechanism of functioning of agricultural entities is shown, which is based on the use of secondary resources, implementation of which in the future will allow, using comprehensive analysis of the used technologies, to modernize the production capacities of processing enterprises, implementing the principle of minimizing waste, ensuring expansion of the market for environmenttally friendly products. Models of rational production are shown: outsourcing and in sourcing. Measures of public support for the use of environmental innovations, environmental insurance, public-private partnership instruments, strengthening control over compliance with the principles of rational environmental management, economic incentives for agricultural producers are proposed.