62 / SEEDWORLD.COM FEBRUARY 2019 RUSSIA PLANS TO increase domestic seed production with the aim of reducing its dependence on imports — a volume estimated to be nearly 80 percent of the domestic market — according to senior officials at the Russian Ministry of Agriculture and local analysts in the seed business. A weak ruble, the byproduct of low energy prices and foreign sanctions related to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, has made all imports more expensive, including that of seeds. And research in Russia would likely be cheaper than what foreign producers spend developing their products. The latest data presented by the Russian Ministry of Agriculture shows that in 2017, the Russian seed market reached a value of almost 50 billion rubles ($800 million) and, that is projected to grow another 5 percent to 7 percent. Most dependent on seed imports are sugar beet growers. An estimated 75 percent of sugar beet seed is imported. According to Russia’s Federal Customs Service, 2018 saw imports of about 3,200 tons of sugar beet seed. Other segments of the market remain complex. In the case of sunflower seeds, imports in 2018 amounted to 16,800 tons, while corn seed was at 38,700 tons. When we look at vegetable seeds, this figure is estimated at 900 tons. According to an official spokesman of Dmitry Patrushev, Russia’s Minister of Agriculture, special attention will be given to reduce imports from the United States. The United States is the largest supplier of sunflower seed to Russia. In 2017, U.S. exports to Russia amounted to almost 10,000 tons on the total sum of $100 million and, according to the Russian Ministry of Agriculture, 2018 supplies are even larger. Additionally, the majority of vegeta- ble seed imported also comes from the United States. Last year, the volume of vegetable seed surmounted 126 tons, valued at an estimated $20 million. Stimulating Growth To curtail and reduce its dependence on seed imports, the Russian government plans to develop its own production. For this purpose, plant breeding and seed RUSSIA TO UP SEED GAME With the goal of reducing its dependence on seed imports, the Russian government invests in plant breeding centers. Eugene Gerden gerden.eug@gmail.com production have recently been included in the existing state program for the devel- opment of the Russian agro-industrial complex until 2025. The program seeks to establish 148 plant breeding centers throughout the country by 2020. Through this invest- ment, the Russian government intends to help farmers increase crop yields by 30 percent to 40 percent and to reduce overall imports. These plans are welcomed by some leading Russian scientists and experts working in the field of plant breeding. Viktor Yakushev, who serves as direc- tor of the Agrophysical Research Institute within the Russian Academy of Sciences, confirms that seed material for most of Russia’s agricultural crops are primarily purchased abroad. “In the case of oil-bearing and some industrial crops, the volume of imports of seed material is currently estimated at 50 percent to 70 percent of the market,” Yakushev says. “At the same time, in the case of potatoes, vegetables and greens, these figures are lower ... in the range of 40 percent to 50 percent.