The issues of food security of the population during periods of economic crises are relevant from both theoretical and practical positions. Low elasticity of agricultural products determines its role as one of the drivers of economic recovery after a recession. The significance of the study is confirmed by its theoretical and practical significance in connection with the need to restore the Russian economy after a recession against the background of external shocks and sanctions pressure. The article collects, systematizes and analyzes the definitions of the concept of "crisis" of various economists. The analysis showed the absence of a single interpretation even within the same time period, however, based on the synthesis of key provisions of the definitions of various scientists, it was formulated that an economic crisis is a significant deterioration in economic indicators, which leads to a reduction in the parameters of the standard and quality of life, disruption of the socio-economic balance. The crisis is characterized by changes in the following economic parameters: a significant reduction in quantitative indicators of production, an increase in financial insolvency in the real sector, which has a negative cascading effect on other sectors of the economy, a breakdown in production and marketing ties, an increase in unemployment. The key provisions of economic theories in the context of the emergence and resolution of crises are considered. A theoretical analysis of the impact of crises on the development of the agro-food complex is carried out. The author's interpretation of the impact of the crisis on the agro-food complex is made in accordance with the considered economic theories. The influence and interrelations between the prerequisites for the emergence of crises in the economy as a whole and crises in the agro-industrial complex are studied. The conducted analysis of scientific sources made it possible to identify the interrelations of crises in the agro-food complex with general economic crises and with crises in other industries. Based on the conducted analysis, recommendations for overcoming and preventing various types of crises in the agro-food complex are formulated.