"Development of 15 sunflower hybrids within the framework of the FNTD: consortium is stronger together!"

In Russia, the National Breeding and Seed Consortium will develop 15 sunflower hybrids within the framework of the Federal Scientific and Technical Program (FSTP) for the development of agriculture until 2030, as stated in the consortium's press release. "Companies Ruseed, "Bio-Ton", "Efko-Seed Production", the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Oilseeds named after V. S. Pustovoyt (VNIIMK), and the South Ural State Agrarian University have signed an agreement on scientific and production partnership. Within the collaboration, 15 new high-yielding sunflower hybrids with increased biological efficiency will be created," the message says. Scientists from VNIIMK will be engaged in selecting promising sunflower hybrids with specified economically valuable traits, Ruseed will provide production capacities for project implementation, trials for growing hybrids will take place on the lands of the agro-corporation "Bio-Ton", and the implementation into production will occur at the facilities of the company "Efko". In turn, the South Ural State Agrarian University will handle project staffing and specialist training. The consortium, which unites the mentioned companies and VNIIMK, was established in February. "This is a unique practice for Russia. For the first time, all participants in the process have joined forces to develop a product: geneticists, breeders, seed producers, processors, and commodity manufacturers. They will interact at every stage of hybrid creation, from selection to production implementation," emphasized the consortium. "The goal of our joint work within the consortium is not only to produce a high-quality domestic product but also to ensure its commercialization and make it in demand on the market," said Mark Gekht, the managing partner of Ruseed, as quoted in the message.