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2025. Vol.10. №3.

What will be the fate of the rural youth in Paraguay?

Oct 22 2025

Fogel R. What will be the fate of the rural youth in Paraguay? // The Russian Peasant Studies. 2025. V.10. №3. P. 68-79.

EDN: HASCJE

Annotation

The paper considers the relationship between the structure of human capital and the intensive displacement of young peasants in contemporary Paraguay. In the description of the agrarian economy, the author defines the peasant sector as a part of the agrarian structure with dynamics strongly determined by agribusiness which is integrated into the neoliberal agrifood regime as an important component of globalized markets. The author’s approach to the study of human capital and migration of young farmers is based on Amartya Sen’s theory of human capital, according to which both the development of actors’ ability to increase production and the definition of the valuable type of life are closely associated with the dominant means of socialization affecting the rural youth (educational possibilities, information-communication technologies, other means for producing meanings). Today these means are dominated by hegemonic knowledge in the interests of large corporations. 

Keywords

Rural youth, human capital, displacement of young peasants, Paraguay, agrarian economy, peasant economy, agribusiness, neoliberal agrifood regime.

About the author

Ramón Fogel, DSc (Sociology), Research Director, Centro de Estudios Rurales Interdisciplinarios (CERI). Cruz del Defensor 1816 casi, Asunción 001421, Paraguay.
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2025. Vol.10. №2.

“Today we need to significantly change the state agricultural policy to support the development of rural areas”

Jul 28 2025

Gordeev A. V., Nikulin A.M. “Today we need to significantly change the state agricultural policy to support the development of rural areas” // The Russian Peasant Studies. 2025. V.10. №2. P. 180-195.

EDN: CQTWRT

Annotation

The first part of the biographical interview with Alexey Vasilyevich Gordeev focuses on the milestones of his life and professional path related to agricultural production and rural development, especially on the transformation of institutions at different levels of agricultural management in the late Soviet and post-Soviet periods; the areas and priorities of Gordeev’s activities as Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation are considered in particular detail. Thus, in the first decades of the 21st century, the priority task was to achieve growth in agricultural production to ensure food independence, food security and stable provision of the population with a variety of food products. The interlocuters discussed ways to reform and develop contemporary agrarian sciences and education in Russia and the period of Russia’s accession to the WTO as associated with import-export relations of Russia with foreign countries.

Keywords

Rural Russia, Soviet economy, agrarian reforms, agribusiness, rural development, minister, WTO.

About the authors

Alexey V. Gordeev, DSc (Economics), Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. Okhotny Ryad St., 1, Moscow, 103265.
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Alexander M. Nikulin, PhD (Economics), Head of the Center for Agrarian Studies, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. Vernadskogo Prosp., 82, Moscow, 119571.
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2025. Vol.10. №2.

On the BRICS Grain Exchange: The role of the Russian platform B2B-technologies

Jul 28 2025

Sheresheva M.Yu., Belyaev A.A. On the BRICS Grain Exchange: The role of the Russian platform B2B-technologies // The Russian Peasant Studies. 2025. V.10. №2. P. 118-135.

EDN: BAAKDK

Annotation

The article identifies opportunities and directions for the use of the Russian digital platform solutions to develop the BRICS Grain Exchange. Based on the analysis of academic literature, the authors describe the features of exchange trade in agricultural products and the dangers of its turning into a platform for hedging price risks and financial speculation (when a balance of supply and demand for physical goods would have no impact on prices). The authors propose to use the Russian B2B platform technologies to ensure a balance of interests of different business forms in the agro-industrial complex, providing an example of the GrainChain digital platform technologies developed for the grain and oilseeds market and a possible technological basis for the BRICS Grain Exchange. The digital trading channel for agribusiness supported by the Russian technology can ensure transparency of interactions between the BRICS countries, since the exchange and platform solutions in B2B trading would increase the number of trade participants in the digital space and speed up the formation of price indices based on a representative sample.

Keywords

Technological sovereignty, food security, digital platforms, technological innovation, agribusiness, BRICS.

About the authors

Marina Yu. Sheresheva, DSc (Economics), Head of the Marketing Department and Laboratory for Institutional Analysis, Lomonosov Moscow State University. Leninskie Gory, 1, bldg. 46, Moscow, 119991.
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Artem A. Belyaev, PhD (History), CEO of “Znamensky Trade Company”, Co-founder of “Grain Chain”, Adviser to the President of the Association “Afanasy Nikitin”.
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2024. Vol.9. №4.

Digital platforms in agribusiness: A technological basis for mutually beneficial interaction of market players

Feb 10 2025

Sheresheva M. Yu., Belyaev A. A. Digital platforms in agribusiness: A technological basis for mutually beneficial interaction of market players // The Russian Peasant Studies. 2024. V.9. №4. P. 257-279.

DOI: 10.22394/2500-1809-2024-9-4-257-279

Annotation

The article outlines directions for the development of digital platforms for the Russian agro-industrial complex. Based on scientific data and research, the authors explain advantages and problems of platform solutions for agribusiness and possibilities to balance interests of producers of different sizes, including farmers and other small and medium-sized enterprises involved in agricultural value chains. The article presents a case of the GrainChain digital platform that allows actors in the grain and oilseeds market to find partners for mutually beneficial transactions, optimize procurement decisions, reduce inventory and overhead costs, receive real-time analytics and use other related services, including financial solutions, which ultimately reduces risks and increases cash flow. The authors conclude about the prospects of such platform solutions not only at the national level but also for international cooperation, in particular for the interaction of various groups whose interests are related to the BRICS agricultural production sector. 

Keywords

Digital platforms, technological sovereignty, technological innovation, agriculture, agribusiness, stakeholder networking.

About the authors

Marina Yu. Sheresheva, DSc (Economics), Professor, Department of Applied Institutional Economics, Head of the Laboratory for Institutional Analysis, Lomonosov Moscow State University. Leninskie Gory 1–46, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
Artem A. Belyaev, PhD (History), CEO, We Grow; Co-founder, GrainChain; Adviser to the President, Association “Afanasy Nikitin”.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

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2020. Vol.5. №1.

Land struggle in Brazil under the Workers’ Party governments

Apr 23 2020

Sauer S., Meszaros G. Land struggle in Brazil under the Workers’ Party governments // The Russian Peasant Studies. 2020. V.5. №1. P. 93-124.

DOI: 10.22394/2500-1809-2020-5-1-93-124

Annotation

The article considers the state agrarian policy during the presidency of Lula da Silva (2003–2010) and Dilma Rousseff (2011–2016). This policy was controversial: on the one hand, the Workers’ Party has always supported land reforms and social movements in the agrarian sphere, but, on the other hand, it began to make political and electoral alliances with large agribusiness. Therefore, more than a decade of generally progressive activities determined only insignificant changes in the implementation of key government programs. In some cases, there were even outright failures such as attempts to expand land expropriation to provide landless family farms with land. The political cycle ended with the collapse of electoral alliances and with the impeachment of Rousseff in 2016, which proved political and tactical failures of the Workers’ Party. The article considers government decisions, historical causes of land conflicts, struggles for land and territory, challenges in mobilizing supporters in this struggles. The authors emphasize the content of political discussions (especially under the criminalization of social movements which makes them illegal), economic disputes about the role of agribusiness, and the fierce struggle for land and territorial rights under the progressive governments of the Workers’ Party.

Keywords

Brazil, Workers' Party, agrarian reform, rural poverty, social movements, agribusiness

About the authors

Sauer Sérgio , PhD (Sociology), Professor, University of Brasilia (UnB). 70.847-080 SQN 406, Bl. H, Apt. 305, Brasilia/DF, Brazil.
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George A. Meszaros, PhD (Sociology), Professor, University of Warwick, School of Law, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom.
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