Determinants of innovation activity in the regional agricultural products market: results of an expert survey

Purpose. The study aims to identify and systematise the key determinants of innovation activity in the regional agricultural products market based on the findings of an expert survey conducted among stakeholders operating within this market. Methodology. The study improves the methodological approach to analysing the determinants of innovation activity in the agricultural products market. Unlike existing approaches, the proposed framework is based on a comprehensive combination of expert survey methods, structural-functional and comparative analysis, and descriptive statistics. The empirical basis of the study comprises the results of an expert survey conducted among managers and specialists of agricultural enterprises, trading companies, agri-logistics operators, and industry associations. The survey was carried out between May and June 2025 in the Lviv region of Ukraine using a remote questionnaire administered through the Google Forms platform. The total sample included 148 experts, ensuring the representativeness of the results and exceeding the minimum required sample size calculated using Slovin’s formula at a 95% confidence level and an 8% margin of error. To measure expert assessments, ordinal scales were employed, including a ten-point scale for evaluating the intensity and significance of specific characteristics of innovation development. Results. The level of innovation activity in the regional agricultural products market remains below average despite the considerable potential of the agri-food sector. The findings indicate that innovation processes within the market are unevenly distributed and fragmented in nature, while their development is significantly constrained by the combined effects of financial, institutional, security-related, and market factors, further exacerbated by wartime conditions. The study identifies the key determinants of innovation activity in the agricultural products market of the Lviv region and demonstrates that innovation activity positively affects the competitiveness and long-term development of agricultural producers. At the same time, the effectiveness of innovation largely depends on the broader institutional and market environment. A notable imbalance was revealed between the potential of specific types of innovation and the actual intensity of their implementation in the region under study. Based on the synthesis of expert assessments, the study further develops the rationale for prioritising strategic directions aimed at stimulating innovation activity in the agricultural products market. Originality. A methodological approach to identifying and ranking the determinants of innovation activity in the agricultural products market has been developed based on expert survey results, followed by their systematisation and evaluation of relative importance. The proposed approach establishes a robust analytical foundation for evidence-based policy and managerial decisions designed to enhance innovation-driven development in the agricultural products market. Practical implications. The study findings may serve as a practical basis for policymakers at the national and regional levels, agricultural enterprise managers, and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector seeking to enhance both the scale and effectiveness of innovation adoption within the agricultural products market.