The Minister of Agriculture, Oksana Lut, visited the Research Institute of Soybeans in the Amur Region to discuss innovations and prospects for the development of soybean breeding.

On August 13, the Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, Oksana Lut, visited the Soybean Research Institute in the Amur Region, which is one of the leading breeding and seed production centers in the country.

The institute has been conducting research in the field of soybean breeding and primary seed production for 97 years, developing innovative methods and technologies to increase the yield and efficiency of soybean production. The first domestic soybean varieties were created here, and every year scientists develop new varieties adapted to different climatic conditions in various regions of Russia. In total, the Soybean Research Institute has already created over 95 varieties, 34 of which are included in the State Register. The institute's share of soybean seed production amounts to about 15% of the total volume, and in the Far East, this share exceeds 40%.

Oksana Lut was shown all the laboratories where research is conducted and was informed about the achievements and future plans. For example, Amur scientists have developed a patented method to increase the resistance of varieties to prolonged soil flooding and overmoistening as a result of five years of research. They have now entered a new stage of research, for which a phytotron was acquired last year, enabling variety testing under extreme conditions, including water scarcity. Additionally, scientists plan to create a climatic chamber for scaling up their work.

The Minister noted that the Amur Region is a leader in agricultural production in the Far East, especially known for its soybean production achievements. They discussed with Governor Vasily Orlov the possibilities of increasing production volumes through the implementation of new technologies, the use of more productive seeds, and larger amounts of fertilizers. They also discussed the potential for introducing ultra-early maturing soybean varieties.

Scientists also shared their research with the Minister on the use of soybeans as a vegetable crop. Soybeans are increasingly in demand worldwide as green beans. Research at the Soybean Research Institute has shown that certain varieties created by scientists possess qualities typical of vegetable soybeans and are suitable for human consumption. The institute aims to achieve import substitution by creating its own high-quality soybean varieties that will dominate the market. In the long term, they also plan to export seeds to other countries.

Another important decision was made by the federal government - the introduction of a ban on the export of soybeans as raw material. This is strategically important for the Amur Region as they must process 85% of soybeans within the country. To ensure processing, new capacities are being built, including a large plant of the "Sodruzhestvo" group of companies in Belogorsk, capable of processing up to a million tons of soybeans. The plant will start operating in 2026. This active investment process is the result of decisions made by the federal ministry," Governor Vasily Orlov noted.