Essence and criteria for sustainable development of rural territories

At the present stage of Russia's development, the solution of several national problems is of strategic importance: increasing the demographic potential of Russia, developing agricultural production to diversify the economy, and effectively implementing the country's agricultural potential to strengthen food security. The solution of these problems is impossible without ensuring sustainable development of Russian rural territories. The actuality and practical significance of solving this problem determined the need to set and solve the following research tasks: determining the features and criteria for sustainable development of rural territories based on the concept analysis of "development", "sustainability", "rural territories", and "sustainable development of rural territories". The study made it possible to clarify the essence of the category "sustainable development of rural territories" and to highlight its features. The results of determining the features of sustainable development of rural territories allowed us to identify the composition of regulatory territories and criteria for sustainable development of rural territories. The study laid the foundation for a special system of indicators for sustainable development of rural territories.