THE ROLE OF INNOVATION IN ENSURING THE COMPETITIVENESS OF AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISES

Abstract

The article examines the role of innovation in ensuring the competitiveness of agricultural enterprises in the face of modern economic challenges, increased competition, resource constraints and the need to adapt to technological changes. Scientific approaches to interpreting the concept of "innovation" are summarized. The regulatory and legal framework of innovation in Ukraine is considered and the relationship between external factors, the innovative potential of the enterprise, the implementation of innovations, the results of innovation activity and the formation of competitive advantages is determined. The main types of innovations in agricultural production are systematized, in particular technological, product, organizational, marketing, digital and environmental, and the nature of their impact on the results of enterprise activities is determined. The position of Ukraine in the global innovation space according to the Global Innovation Index is analyzed and the main problems that hinder the innovative development of agricultural enterprises are identified, including limited financial resources, insufficient level of technology transfer, weak interaction of science, education and business, shortage of qualified personnel and insufficient level of digitalization. The main directions of intensification of innovative activity are substantiated, including the development of financial and economic support mechanisms, strengthening the interaction of science, education and business, digitalization and technological modernization, development of human resources, introduction of environmental and resource-saving technologies and improvement of state innovation policy. It is established that the comprehensive use of innovations contributes to increasing the efficiency of resource use, production productivity, product quality, adaptability of enterprises to changes in the external environment, strengthening market positions and forming sustainable competitive advantages of agricultural enterprises.