Title: The integrated approach to sustainable development of rural areas: the case for the agricultural sector in the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation

Authors: Larisa L. Emelyanova; Elena G. Kropinova; Ksenia J. Voloshenko

Addresses: Institute of Environmental Management, Territory Development and Urban Planning, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, 14 A, Nevskogo, 236041 Kaliningrad, Russia ' Institute of Recreation, Tourism and Physical Education, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, 14 A, Nevskogo, 236041 Kaliningrad, Russia ' Institute of Economics and Management, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, 14 A, Nevskogo, 236041 Kaliningrad, Russia

Abstract: The paper presents the original technique of assessing the sustainable development in rural areas which is based on an integrated approach. It describes the methods and validation conducted for rural areas of the Russian Federation with the case for its exclave - the Kaliningrad region. The characteristic of its agropotential has been studied; the analysis of social, economic and environmental indicators within 20 groups of statistical data has been used to calculate a composite sustainability index. On the basis of the integrated analysis conducted, recommendations for the sustainable development of rural areas have been elaborated. It was concluded that under the conditions when the region is obliged to provide food security, detailed assessment of sustainability of agricultural areas becomes extremely important. The method of the calculation of the integrated approach to sustainable development was introduced and applied for the border rural areas of the Kaliningrad region.

Keywords: integration; agropotential; sustainable development; rural areas; food security; agro-tourism; Kaliningrad region; regional governance; local governance; social sustainability; economic sustainability; environmental sustainability; Russian Federation; agriculture; agricultural industry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJARGE.2015.072900

International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, 2015 Vol.11 No.2, pp.158 - 177

Received: 19 Jul 2014
Accepted: 23 Jul 2015
Published online: 06 Nov 2015 *

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