According to the CEO of a company called "UnionSeedBeet," Roman Berdnikov, starting from the late 1990s, Russia almost completely lost its own seed breeding system, and farmers had to purchase seeds and technologies abroad. However, over the past few years, thanks to government support and scientific research, the industry has begun to actively recover. This is especially noticeable in the production of sugar beet seeds.
Sugar beet is a key crop that ensures food security. Every year, more than 1 million hectares are sown in Russia, yielding around 6.5 million tons of sugar, satisfying domestic demand in full. Planting one season requires 1.5 million seeds. The main areas are located in the Central Federal District (60–70%) and the Krasnodar Region (20–25%).
Until 2020, Russia imported sugar, but over the past five years, it has completely transitioned to self-sufficiency. Beet yield varies depending on the variety and climatic conditions and can reach 650 centners per hectare with a sugar content of 17%, theoretically yielding up to 11 tons of sugar per hectare, but considering technological losses, it is around 10 tons. Currently, the average yield ranges from 6 to 8 tons per hectare.
The quality of planting material directly affects yield. Over 25 years, the share of domestic seeds has increased from 0.5% to 20%. According to the Food Security Doctrine, by 2030, 75% of seeds should be of domestic origin — and the company is confident it will achieve this goal even earlier.
Creating sugar beet hybrids is a complex task involving traditional breeding methods, biotechnology, and genomic research. Today, "UnionSeedBeet" utilizes both standard approaches and advanced technologies, from cell cultures to full genome sequencing. Genetic modification work is also underway to create varieties resistant to drought and diseases.
The company treats seeds with micro- and macro-elements, coats them, processes them with special solutions, and packages them into sowing units of 100 thousand pieces. Production capacities allow for the production of up to 900 thousand sowing units, meeting 65–70% of the total demand. It will take approximately 2.5 years to reach the 75% mark.
Local seeds are already 1.5 times more affordable than imported ones, and they receive government support: up to 70%, and in some regions — up to 90% of the price. Scientists can also receive subsidies of up to 50% of the costs of creating hybrids.
Currently, 35 domestic hybrids have been developed, with 15 already on the market. The company exports its seeds to Egypt, Belarus, Turkmenistan, and plans to enter the markets of European Union countries. The sugar beet seed market in Russia is estimated at 10–12 billion rubles (approximately $128–154 million), while the sugar market is a hundred times larger. The company believes in the feasibility of capturing 15% of the global market.
