Development of the milk market in the context of ensuring the country's food security

The purpose of the article is to reveal the essence of food security and analyze the development trends of the milk market in terms of providing the population with dairy products. Research methods. In the process of the study, dialectical methods of cognition, a systematic approach to the study of economic phenomena, monographic (with generalized domestic and foreign experience in determining the economic essence of food security), analysis and synthesis (when studying the levels of milk production and the physical and economic accessibility of the population to these products) were used , statistical groupings (when identifying the place of regions in the national volume of dairy production), economic and statistical (when processing mass statistical data), abstract logical (when substantiating theoretical generalizations and drawing conclusions). Research results. The theoretical aspects of food security as an economic category are substantiated, the essence of which is reduced as the ability of the state under various conditions to provide guarantees and meet the needs of the population for food products at a scientifically grounded level of consumption for effective demand. The analysis of the development of the milk market in the context of ensuring food security, in particular of such a segment as the consumption of milk in accordance with the scientifically grounded norm, is carried out and trends in the provision of milk to the regions of Ukraine are determined. Scientific novelty. The analysis of the level of dairy products consumption by the population of the regions of Ukraine made it possible to determine a certain level of imbalances in the production and formation of regional food stocks and to classify the regions of Ukraine by functions in the milk market according to the level of provision with their own production, which made it possible to substantiate the need for interregional exchange of industry products in order to improve the level consumption per capita and strengthening food security. Practical significance. The recommendations of the authors can be used by the Departments of agro-industrial development of regional state administrations in the development of food security programs, taking into account both the development of their own milk production and the exchange between regions. Tabl.: 3. Figs.: 2. Refs.: 24.