Indonesia, an emerging archipelagic nation, possesses abundant natural resources spanning marine, land (including forests and water sources), and diverse biological riches. The agricultural sector emerges as a pivotal driver of growth across the country, exhibiting extensive distribution. Consequently, there is an urgent imperative for comprehensive research to bolster and optimize the performance of this sector. This study aims to meticulously analyze and scrutinize macroeconomic variables aimed at enhancing Indonesia’s agricultural sector. Through the utilization of a dynamic panel model, the study zeroes in on crucial variables: economic growth in the agricultural sector, farmer terms of exchange, human development index, population density, inflation, average daily wages, and lagged economic growth data from each province in Indonesia. The best model for dynamic panel testing, employing both First Difference Generalized Method of Moments (FD-GMM) and Generalized Method of Moments System (SYS-GMM) approaches, is identified as the SYS-GMM model. This model exhibits unbiased and consistent estimation, as evidenced by the Arellano-Bond (AB) test and Sargan test results. The analysis conducted using this selected model reveals notable findings. Lagging agricultural sector performance, human capital measured by the Human Development Index (HDI), and farmers’ exchange rates are found to significantly and positively influence the economic growth of the agricultural sector. Conversely, inflation exerts a significant and negative impact on sectoral growth. However, wage levels and population density do not demonstrate a significant partial effect on the economic growth of the agricultural sector.

The territorial planning approach to allocating productive forces is based on the fact that territories have competitive advantages in producing specific products. However, in agriculture, the advantages principle cannot be used to shape the allocation patterns, due to a variety of intervening factors, such as the climatic and environmental conditions for agricultural production and the quality of land and availability of water. In the case of Russia, one of the most diverse countries in terms of the territorial disparities in agricultural production, this study examines the location and development patterns of the agricultural sector. The study identifies the competitive advantages of territories by comparing localization of agricultural production, production costs, performance, and profitability of agricultural producers, as well as prices of agricultural products in 78 different administrative regions in Russia. The study reveals which regions have more advantageous conditions for over-concentrating energy capacities, labor resources, fixed capital, and investments. However, at a certain point, over-concentrated production forces can lead to a deterioration in the performance of farmers due to an increase in capital intensity. Therefore, countries with significant regional differences in agricultural production should adjust their spatial development patterns according to the parameters of territories’ comparative advantages.

Objective: This research aims to investigate the legal dynamics of leasing agricultural land plots integrated with protective plantings, motivated by recent legislative changes that significantly influence both agricultural productivity and environmental conservation. Methods: The authors of the article used the methods of axiological, positivist, dogmatic, historical, and comparative-legal analysis. Results: The study considers the recent legislative amendments that grant agricultural producers the right to lease land with forest belts without the need for bidding. It traces the historical development of forest plantations, highlighting their major role in intensifying agricultural production. Our results reveal that the new legislative framework allows agricultural producers to lease lands with protective forest belts without bidding, a change that highlights the complexities of balancing economic efficiency with ecological sustainability. Conclusions: The research emphasizes the unique legal challenges and opportunities presented by forest belt leasing in the agricultural context. It stipulates the need for a balanced legal framework that preserves environmental integrity, protects property rights, and supports sustainable agricultural practices. This study dwells on the evolving legal landscape of forest belt leasing and its implications for agricultural land management in Russia and similar regions. The significance of this research in its comprehensive analysis of the legal, economic, and ecological dimensions of land leasing, offering a nuanced understanding of how legislative changes shape land use strategies.

Considering increasing concerns about climate change and its implications for global agricultural competitiveness and food security, a small text has assessed the sensitivity of agriculture competitiveness employing a composite scale to the climate change impacts. The world’s food production and supply chains have been jeopardized strain as the world struggles to cope with the far-reaching consequences of climate change, which are worsened by a series of natural disasters, the Ukraine-Russia war, and the continuous fight against infectious diseases like COVID-19. Natural disasters and armed conflicts are overstretching people’s capabilities to acquire nutritive foods at economical/reasonable prices, risking local and global food security and agricultural market competitiveness. The study develops a framework for global agricultural competitiveness assessment by conducting a Delphi Expert survey. The framework has served as a global benchmark for assessing and comparing the national and international agriculture landscape. Its implementation will significantly contribute to the development of policies that promote inclusive and sustainable agricultural practices. Through this action, it guarantees to substantially enhance worldwide food security, thereby effectively tackling the urgent issues that impact communities across the globe.

Coordination and integration among farms within agri-food chains are crucial to tackle the issue of fragmentation within the primary sector, both at the European and national level. The Italian agri-food system still complains about the need to aggregate supply to support market dynamics, especially for niche and quality products that characterize the Made in Italy. It is well known that the Italian agri-food sector is closely linked to the relationship between agriculture on one hand and culture/tradition on the other, which is reflected in the high number of quality products that have obtained EU PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) and PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) recognition. The development of vertical forms of coordination has found significant support in recent years from the integrated supply chain design approach, which is increasingly becoming an essential tool for implementing rural development policies. In this context, the study provides a comparison between companies that have joined the Integrated Supply Chain Projects of the Rural Development Program and those that have not applied. The aim is to highlight any differences in order to understand policy impact. The analysis is based on the Emilia-Romagna region Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) data, and the sample consists of more than 2 thousand farms. The statistical analysis conducted compares treated and non-treated using the Welch-t-test for independent unmatched samples. The main results show higher values for treated farms when structural variables are analyzed, like the utilized agricultural area or the agricultural work unit. In general, higher balance sheet performances emerged for treated farms. In conclusion, this study shows that the Integrated Supply Chain Projects represent a worthwhile tool both to increase cooperation, food quality, and to enhance a competitive agricultural sector.