"Russia is preparing to become a leader in the production of biologics and biofertilizers to increase the competitiveness of the agricultural sector."

At the conference, current industry issues were discussed. Sergey Korshunov, Chairman of the Board of the Union of Organic Farming, analyzed the global and Russian markets for biological plant protection and nutrition. In his speech, he emphasized the importance of developing the production of bio-preparations and bio-fertilizers to increase the competitiveness of the agro-industrial complex and ensure the country's food security.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has included achieving technological leadership among the national goals, so the government plans to launch the National project "Bioeconomy" to create new markets in this area. The development of production of bio-preparations and bio-fertilizers is a key component of this project, aimed at ensuring agrotechnological leadership and entering international markets.

Denis Manturov, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, noted that the National project "Bioeconomy" plays an important role in the modern development of agriculture. He emphasized the need for the development of organic products for highly productive agriculture and human health.

Russian Minister of Agriculture Oksana Lut emphasized that biotechnologies are an important aspect of modern agriculture. She highlighted three main directions of biotechnology application: climate impact, increasing plant and animal productivity, as well as the environmental impact of agricultural production. Oksana Lut emphasized the importance of reducing chemical plant protection agents and fertilizers and increasing the use of bio-preparations.

Global markets for bio-preparations and bio-fertilizers are the fastest-growing segments in plant protection and nutrition. The bio-preparations market is estimated at 13.7 billion US dollars, with its growth forecasted to reach 27.9 billion US dollars by 2028. The bio-fertilizers market is estimated at 7.86 billion US dollars and is expected to grow to 18.48 billion US dollars in the next 5 years.

In developed countries, up to 20% of agricultural producers already use biological preparations and bio-fertilizers in their work. This allows them to increase crop yields and reduce overall production costs. However, in Russia, the share of bio-preparations and bio-fertilizers does not exceed 2%, while imported chemical pesticides account for over 48% and imported fertilizers account for 2%.

The Union of Organic Farming presented collective proposals for the development of the bio-preparations and bio-fertilizers market, including integrating production into the National project "Bioeconomy," simplifying the state registration procedure, as well as removing requirements for product re-registration and conducting expertise. There is also a need to create a state catalog of bio-preparations and bio-fertilizers, as well as to optimize the certification and registration of products.

The Union of Organic Farming is preparing a new project – a practical online platform "Healthy Soil," which will be launched in 2025. All this work is aimed at developing the agro-biotechnology sector and increasing the competitiveness of the Russian agro-industrial complex.

Russia has all the necessary conditions to become a leader in the application of bio-preparations and bio-fertilizers, which will improve the quality and reduce the cost of agricultural products. However, this requires state support and the elimination of administrative obstacles that hinder the development of this sector. The use of bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers will not only increase the population's competitiveness in agricultural combat but also reduce the risk of losing positions in the markets.