levels. At present the country real lzes a complex programme of mechanization and automation of labour-Intensive production processes embracing all branches of the national economy. In the same manner the Food programme of the USSR upto 1990 has formulated socio-economic objectives and tasks for better provision of population with food products. The realization of these large-scale tasks has required considerable measures 340' oriented towards further Improvement of scientific and material­ technical base of the agro-lndustrlal complex. Special sections Included Into the Food programme have defined the directions of development of the material-technical base and reinforcement of role of science In Its real lzatlon. These sections formulate principal requirements for raising technical level of all types of agricultural technology which should be used In designing new prototypes and modernizing the existing technology. The corresponding sections contain major tasks directed towards the Improvement of social and communal setvlces In the rural areas and principal aspects of environment protection. This complex of tasks serves the basis for assessment of ·new technology and scientific developments In ~II branches and fields of knowledge which are connected with .the Implementation of the Food programme. The major difficulty In carrying out such ·complicated assessment of new technology consists In great number of criteria and considerable compl !cations of quantitative expression of separate dIrect Ions of ef f lc Ieney. BesIdes, there . are considerable difficulties In dividing separate components of socio-economic effect while assessing SandT achievements as any change In production resulting from the Innovation wll I produce Interrelated social and economic results. The social results ts usually defined as the achievement of targets set by the society as a consumer of new technology, whereas the economic result consists In the achievement of targets of the society In the 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the implementation of a large-scale food program in the USSR, focusing on the technological and scientific aspects of improving agricultural production and food provision. It mentions the mechanization and automation of labor-intensive production processes, the development of the agro-industrial complex, and the assessment of new technologies. These themes suggest that the text is related to economic development, agriculture, and science and technology.

**Category**
Economic development, Agriculture, Science and technology