The current state of potato breeding and seed production in the Russia

Issue № 5, 2022, article № 12, pages 141-149

Section: Economics of agribusiness sectors

Language: Russian

Original language title: СОВРЕМЕННОЕ СОСТОЯНИЕ СЕЛЕКЦИИ И СЕМЕНОВОДСТВА КАРТОФЕЛЯ В РОССИИ

Keywords: BREEDING, SEED PRODUCTION, POTATOES, INNOVATIONS, INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT, CONCEPT, AGRO-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX, PRODUCTIVITY, EFFICIENCY, STATE SUPPORT, FOOD SECURITY, IMPORT SUBSTITUTION

Abstract: In recent years, certain successes have been achieved in the field of potato breeding and seed production, which are mainly related to the implementation of the subprogram «Development of potato breeding and seed production in the Russian Federation» of the Federal Scientific and Technical Program aimed at reducing dependence on imported seed material, as well as the creation of a domestic modern innovative seed production system. In the Russian Food Security Doctrine, as an evaluation criterion, the share of domestic seed production of the main agricultural crops cultivated in Russia should be at least 75% of the demand. According to industry experts, the share of imported seed potatoes is currently about 30–50%. However, if we take into account imported tubers of propagated potatoes, which in fact cannot be considered domestic seed material, this figure will be much higher. The «National report on the progress and results of the implementation in 2020 of the State Program for the Development of Agriculture and regulation of agricultural products, raw materials and food markets» noted that the share of domestic produced and sold potato varieties of the «elite» category amounted to only 2.1%, that is, according to our estimates, about 15 thousand quintals. The issue of complete replacement of imported seed remains open, which determined the main purpose of this study. The article provides a detailed analysis of the current state of potato breeding and seed production offers suggestions for stimulating and further its development. The issues discussed in the article can be reflected in the concept of innovative development of the agro-industrial complex of Russia for the medium and long term.

Authors: Pisareva Liudmila Viacheslavovna, Arzhantsev Sergei Aleksandrovich, Garist Aleksandr Vasilevich