The article provides a comprehensive theoretical and legal study of agri-food policy as an independent agrarian legal category and an important component of Ukraine’s state agrarian policy. It is argued that in the context of globalization challenges, the transformation of food systems, increased risks to national and food security, and martial law, agri-food policy is becoming strategically important and requires adequate regulatory and legal support. The author’s understanding of agri-food policy is formulated. It is proved that the effectiveness of its formation and implementation directly depends on a clear definition of its strategic goals and priorities, their coordination with the principles of sustainable development, as well as on the creation of effective legal mechanisms for implementation. It is determined that the main and priority goal of agri-food policy, as a component of state agricultural policy, is to ensure food security and guarantee the population’s right to food. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the principles of legal support for agri-food policy. Their essence is revealed as fundamental ideas and normative and regulatory principles that determine the direction of legal regulation in the relevant field, ensure the unity of legislation, influence law-making and law enforcement activities, and perform a guaranteeing function regarding the realization of the human right to food. The significance of the principles of legal support for agrifood policy is determined. The system of principles for legal support of agri-food security has been identified and its strategic objectives analyzed. It has been substantiated that further development of legal support for agri-food policy should be based on a combination of economic efficiency, social justice, and environmental balance, taking into account European integration processes and current security challenges. It has been proven that improving the principles, objectives, and mechanisms of legal support for agri-food policy is a necessary prerequisite for strengthening Ukraine’s food and national security, guaranteeing the human right to food, and further developing the doctrine of agricultural law.

Authored books

1. Kulynych P, Pravovi problemy okhorony i vykorystannia zemel silskohospodarskoho pryznachennia v Ukraini (Lohos 2011) (in Ukrainian).

2. Kurman T, Stalyi rozvytok silskohospodarskoho vyrobnytstva: problemy pravovoho zabezpechennia (Iurait 2018) (in Ukrainian).

Edited books

3. Urkevych V, Shulha M (red), Derzhavna ahrarna polityka Ukrainy: problemy pravovoho zabezpechennia (Vyd-ts O. M. Eshke 2014) (in Ukrainian).

4. Tsvik M, Petryshyn O (red), Zahalna teoriia derzhavy i prava: pidruchnyk dlia studentiv yurydychnykh vyshchykh navchalnykh zakladiv (Pravo 2009) (in Ukrainian).

Journal articles

5. Kolodii A, ‘Pryntsypy prava: heneza, poniattia, klasyfikatsiia ta realizatsiia’ [2012] 3 Almanakh prava 42–43 (in Ukrainian).

6. Mykhailiuk O, Aktualni pytannia pravovoho zabezpechennia ahroprodovolchoi polityky Ukrainy v umovakh voiennoho stanu, [2025] 90(3) Naukovyi visnyk Uzhhorodskoho natsionalnoho universytetu. Seriia: Pravo 65–66 https://doi.org/10.24144/2307- 3322.2025.90.3.8 (in Ukrainian).

Conference papers

7. Bahai N, ‘Zakonodavche zabezpechennia derzhavnoi ahrarnoi polityky: okremi problemy’, Priorytetni napriamy rozvytku ahrarnoho zakonodavstva i prava v suchasnykh umovakh: mater. nauk.-prakt. konf. (m. Kharkiv, 20 kvit. 2018 r.) (A Stativka (red), Yurait 2018) 62 (in Ukrainian).