INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PLANT PROTECTION PRODUCTS MARKET DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The article examines innovative approaches to improving the energy efficiency of Ukraine’s agricultural sector through the lens of the development of the plant protection products (PPP) market. The market structure is summarized, and the key operators (international corporations, national manufacturers, and distribution networks) are characterized, along with the behavior of the main consumer groups (agroholdings, medium-sized, and small farms). Based on a dynamic analysis of import and export data for 2020–2024 (commodity code 3808 according to the Ukrainian Classification of Goods for Foreign Economic Activity), the study identifies a reduction in import value alongside an increase in physical volumes, a declining share of imports in foreign trade, and consistently low export performance. This trend is interpreted as a sign of a structural shift in demand toward more mass-market and lower-cost products, as well as a gradual recovery of the market after the shocks of 2022–2023. The paper theoretically substantiates and practically details a mechanism for enhancing energy efficiency in the production and application of PPPs, integrating five groups of instruments: technological (resource-saving and low-waste processes, bio- and nanotechnologies), digital (precision agriculture, GIS, drones, sensors, data analytics), organizational and managerial (energy management, energy audits, ISO standards), financial and economic (tax incentives, “green” loans, grants, ESCO models), and institutional and educational (clusters, technology parks, competence centers). The coordinated implementation of these tools reduces the energy intensity of the chain “from active substance synthesis to product application”, optimizes logistics, minimizes environmental impact, and enhances producer competitiveness. The scientific novelty lies in the systematization of market and technological drivers of PPP energy efficiency and in the proposal of an integrated mechanism for their implementation aligned with the principles of the European Green Deal and Industry 5.0 approaches. The practical significance consists in the development of tools for state policy and corporate strategies aimed at modernizing PPP production and application.