The article pays attention to the assessment and development directions of the economic development path of the agro-industrial complex of the Southern Federal District. It was found that the most realistic prospects for the recovery of the domestic economy, with existing opportunities, are largely associated with the active development of import substitution, primarily due to the attraction of FDI. The main task of the Russian Federation is to increase income from the export of agricultural products. This is due to the fact that in the Southern Federal District they produce a large share of agricultural products, in addition, the Kuban and the Rostov Region have exits to the Black and Azov Seas (the main example is the Novorossiysk commercial sea port), all the main flows of cargo go through their ports today. Export shipments are growing annually. The author proposes that in order to strengthen economic security and ensure the sustainable development of the Southern Federal District in the face of economic sanctions, the economic system management bodies require a combination of centralized and decentralized approaches to economic formation, ensuring economic security and improving international competitiveness.