Plant breeding programs in Russia
Russia, also called the Russian Federation, is a country in Northern Eurasia. It is, in area, the largest country in the world, covering more than an eighth of the Earth’s land
area. Russian agriculture suffered a severe transition decline in the early 1990s as it struggled to transform from a centrally controlled economy to a market-orientated system. After nearly ten years of decline, it has begun to show signs of modest improvement but the share of the agricultural sector in GDP has remained below 6% since 2000. Wheat, barley, corn and sunflower are the major crops in Russia.
The entire plant breeding programme of Russia is lead by the Department of plant production of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences (RAAS) which includes 56 research institutes (43 breeding, 13 biotechnological and technological centres). Commercial ventures, including private firms, are involved in seed multiplication for market use. The Ministry of Higher Education has within its structure specialized institutions responsible for the training of specialists in agriculture. Institutions under RAAS have post-graduate departments to prepare qualified personnel in agricultural science.
The programmes are directed at solving fundamental and priority applied tasks, including release of highly-productive varieties and hybrids with resistance to biotic and abiotic stressess. Particular emphasis is placed on the most economically important crops (cereals, potatoes, flax, beet, vegetables).
Currently, the major constraint for Russian plant breeding programmes is the financial situation which considerably limits possibilities for plant breeding education, training and extension. Also, the agricultural sector is of reduced interest to younger generations, since prevailing conditions in rural areas present a low standard of living, absence of modern facilities and techniques, and lack of career prospects. Moreover, the Ministry of Agriculture exercised full control over production and agricultural supply systems and, in the case of seeds, granted production licences to selected farms associated with the breeding institutes. The seed sector therefore has limited ability to incorporate new concepts based on commercial practices.
Research and education institutes with activities in plant breeding
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All-Russia Research Institute of Plant Industry, named after N.I. VavilovWebsite available in English or RussianThe Institute originated and developed from the Bureau of Applied Botany organised in 1894 under the Ministry of Agriculture and State Property of Russia. Currently, the N.I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry is one of the two largest head Institutes of All-Russian Research Institutes. It is the only research institution in Russia whose activities include plant genetics resources (PGR) collection, conservation and study. This Institute, its accomplishments, and role in maintaining a global ex situ collection are well known world-wide. The scientific network of VIR includes the institute's headquarters with 9 plant resources departments, 13 fundamental research laboratories, and 12 experiment stations in different geographic zones of Russia. |
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All-Russia Research Institute of Grain-Legume and Groats
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All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (ARRIAB)Website available in Russian or EnglishThe Institute was founded in 1974 as the All-Union Institute of Applied Molecular Biology and Genetics, and later renamed the All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (ARRIAB). The Institute conducts basic and applied research to develop new biotechnologies for creating promising crop and livestock forms with improved economic properties. It trains the research staff including post-graduates and post-docs and has international connections with research institutions worldwide. |
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All-Russian Rice Research Institute (ARRRI)Website available in EnglishThe All-Union Research Institute of Rice-growing was founded in Krasnodar on December, 1931. Since 1991 it was called the All-Russian Rice Research Institute. ARRRI’s key activities are breeding of rice varieties with high yield and desirable agronomic traits for various climatic zones, developing of resource-saving and environmentally-safe technologies of rice farming and seed production. Eighteen rice varieties developed by the Institute were approved and promoted for use, now comprising 95% of total rice cultivation area in the Krasnodar Territory and 90 % in Russia. Ametist, Viola, Druzhny, and Yantar varieties have been awarded golden and silver medals by the All-Russian Exhibition Center, being marked as the best innovation in the agroindustrial complex. |
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All-Russian Research Institute of Oilseeds named after V.S.Pustovoit
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Krasnodar Research Institute of Agriculture named after P.P.Lukyanenko
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Stavropol Research Institute of Agriculture
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All-Russian Research Institute of Forage named after V.R.Viliams
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Information by Victor Kovalyov. Last revised 16-06-2010, GIPB.