The article develops the theoretical and methodological foundations for the formation of the concept of investment support for sustainable development of rural areas in terms of institutional transformations. It is determined that the systemic idea of rural areas as a territorial and social system, allows us to consider them as a socio-ecological-economic system in the context of the following structural components: agroecosystems, economic and socio-mental space. It has been established that sustainable development is possible on the basis of an integrated approach that takes into account the close relationship between the economic, environmental and social components of rural areas. Rural areas develop in a certain natural environment, in close connection with the urban territorial subsystem and under the influence of the global economic system. The dynamism and sustainability of rural development depend not only on the external environment, but also on achieving a balance of their economic, social and environmental components, which is ensured by adhering to the principles of complexity, coherence, balance and harmony. The methods of management of sustainable development of rural areas used in modern economic science and practice are caused by features of the last, and also the factors influencing activity of investments in the conditions of a countryside. All this requires a variety of applied management tools, the cumulative effect of which should ensure sustainable development of rural areas, stabilization of agricultural production, stop the outflow of migration from rural areas to cities and abroad, improve living standards in rural areas. Based on the provisions of economic theory on the nature of investment and current legislation, the article reveals the following features of investing in sustainable rural development. It is noted that sustainable development of rural areas is possible only with sufficient and effective investment support based on a combination of efforts of state and local authorities, local communities, businesses, investment strategy, improving public investment policy and implementing an appropriate mechanism for its implementation.
GLOBAL CHALLENGES FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN SLOVAKIA