The article considers the importance of innovative development of the Russian agro industrial complex as an indispensable condition for importing substitution in the agro-food market. Disclosed about the current state of the agrarian sector in Russia, including state regulation and information and consulting support. The foundations for the creation of an innovative system in the agro-industrial complex of Russia based on the sectoral structure, system-forming participants and infrastructural elements, the improvement of the technology transfer mechanism, brief foreign experience reviewes. It is addressed to researchers, teachers and students of agricultural and economic universities, as well as managers and specialists of enterprises of the agro-industrial complex.
