Scientists in Russia helped reindeer herders grow potatoes and radishes in permafrost conditions

It was possible to establish agriculture in Russia’s northernmost garden thanks to biologists from St. Petersburg State University. The work was carried out within the framework of the activities of the world-class Scientific Center “Agricultural Technologies of the Future”. The Ilebts community of indigenous peoples, formed in 2001, is engaged in reindeer herding. After 20 years, they decided to start a vegetable garden in order to be less dependent on supplies “from the mainland.” The plantings are located in the tundra at a distance of 10 km from the village of Soyakha (Yamal district of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug) at 70 degrees north latitude. Before this, farming practices in Yamal were noted no further north than the 67th parallel, that is, in the forest-tundra zone. The idea of creating a vegetable garden in such a harsh area arose when Russian scientists took soil samples from the surrounding area of the village. After analyzing samples at the Department of Applied ...