Situation of potato and sugarbeet seeds in Russia is close to catastrophic

The article highlights the critical issue of Russia's self-sufficiency in potato and sugar beet seeds, with indicators showing a dangerous decline towards a catastrophic situation. Despite being largely self-sufficient in seeds for seven major crops, the country relies heavily on imported seeds for potatoes and sugar beet, with local production covering no more than 5% of demand. This discrepancy is attributed to the disconnect between scientific community-developed seeds and business demand, calling for a state directive to ensure scientific seeds are used for sowing. The article also discusses the potential potato shortage in 2022 due to increased processing capacity, reduced yields from drought, and high production costs, with concerns about price hikes and the need for imports to make up the shortfall. The government's plans to mitigate these issues through increased subsidies, infrastructure development, and additional funding for the vegetable growing industry aim to address the challenges and achieve self-sufficiency in seeds by 2030.