Thematic sessions of the 28th International Scientific and Practical Agricultural Forum in Novosibirsk addressed the most important issues in the agro-industrial complex and agricultural science. Leading scientists from Russia, the CIS, BRICS, and several African countries participated in the sessions.
Academician Nikolai Ivanovich Kashevarov, moderator of the "Crop Production, Forage Production, Breeding, and Seed Production of Grain Crops" section, presented a report titled "Forage Production in Siberia: Status, Problems, and Potential of the Industry." A report titled "Forage Crop Varieties of the Siberian Federal Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences" by Revmira Ivanovna Polyudina, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences and Head of the Breeding Center of the Siberian Federal Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, was listened to with great interest. Researchers from Belarus, Tajikistan, the Volga region, the Urals, and Eastern Siberia shared their achievements.
Representatives from the SFSCA RAS, the Siberian State University of Engineering and Biotechnology, the Federal Altai Scientific Center of Agrobiotechnologies, the Far Eastern Research Institute of Plant Protection, the Tomsk State University, the Kazan State Agrarian University, and other research centers and universities from the country and the Republic of Belarus took part in the "Agriculture, Agrochemistry, and Plant Protection" section.
The "Ecology and Natural Resource Conservation" section focused on human impacts on natural areas and the prevention of animal and agricultural plant diseases that pose a threat to consumers. Scientists from Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Belarus shared their scientific achievements and practical work.
Lyudmila Vasilyevna Tyu, Doctor of Science in Economics and the Head of the Siberian Research Institute of Agricultural Economics of the SFSCA RAS, moderated the section "Economics and Land Relations."
"Our section will address the issues related to agricultural development, achieving food security, technical and technological modernization of agricultural production, developing the agrifood market, and advancing rural technologies. We are going to discuss new approaches to management systems, innovation, and a range of issues whose solutions are of paramount importance for the development of agricultural production," the moderator addressed the section participants. "We have 26 presentations scheduled, including 17 online presentations. Colleagues from the Republic of Belarus, Moscow, Omsk, Kemerovo, and Barnaul are going to join us," said Lyudmila Tyu.
During the "Animal Science and Biotechnology" section, Academician Vladimir Andreevich Soloshchenko, Scientific Director of the Siberian Research and Design and Technological Institute of Animal Husbandry SFSCA RAS, presented a report entitled "Beef Livestock Farming: A Priority Development Area for Siberia and the Far East." Scientists from Tyumen, Murmansk, Stavropol, Chelyabinsk, Vologda, Moscow, and the Republic of Belarus presented papers examining current trends in animal husbandry and the prevention of dangerous diseases.
The “Veterinary Medicine” section began with a presentation by the moderator, Alexander Gavrilovich Glotov, Head of the Institute of Experimental Veterinary Science of Siberia and the Far East of the SFSCA RAS, the Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Doctor of Science in Veterinary Medicine. The presentation was titled "The Life of Academician A.S. Donchenko of the Russian Academy of Sciences and His Role in the Development of the Veterinary Science in Siberia and the Far East." The section was attended by Lkhamsaizmaa Davaadorj, the leading researcher at the Research Institute of Veterinary Medicine (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia); Mikhail Petrovich Neustroev, Doctor of Science in Veterinary Medicine and Professor at the Yakutsk Research Institute of Agriculture, “Yakutsk Scientific Center, SFSCA RAS”; and scientists from Orenburg, Tyumen, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Yakutsk, Moscow, Kazakhstan, and Belarus. The section was the largest at the Forum, with 52 researchers participating.
A section meeting was held in the conference room of the Siberian Research Institute of Agricultural Mechanization and Electrification, chaired by Nikolai Mikhailovich Ivanov, Director of the Research Institute and the Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Science in Engineering. The section's development direction will soon determine the future of the agro-industrial complex. Participants' presentations focused on the use of unmanned aircraft, precision farming systems, artificial intelligence, and even low-temperature plasma. As the speakers noted, agriculture is becoming a highly intelligent field requiring trained specialists. Therefore, alongside automation issues, presentations were also presented on training personnel for rural areas.
Among the most discussed presentations in the "Processing and Storage of Agricultural Products" section were those by the representatives of the Republic of Belarus. Long-term, targeted work to maximize the efficient use of agricultural products is now evident: Belarus is a recognized leader in supplying environmentally friendly and delicious products to the Russian market. Participants in the section also proposed domestic technologies and methods for processing fruits, berries, and medicinal plants, ready for implementation in production. Most presentations proposed using plants and products widely grown and produced in Siberia as feedstock.
The “Information Technologies in the Agro-Industry” section, led by the Academician Viktor Valentinovich Alt, Director of the Siberia Physical and Engineering Institute of Agrarian Issues SFSCA RAS, examined complex systems of information support interaction in the era of digitalization of agricultural production. The use of computer vision and machine learning, modern navigation systems, and modeling of natural conditions for growing plants in specialized systems is taking agriculture to a new technical and technological level, which requires not only highly qualified personnel, but also a new understanding of the entire agricultural production system.
"Today's forum is dedicated to the memory of Alexander Semenovich Donchenko, an outstanding scientist, talented organizer, and mentor who trained a new generation of specialists in the agricultural sector. What makes this forum special is that it always focuses on the most pressing issues. It always features the most cutting-edge developments and interesting ideas, and I try to participate in its work personally, although, thanks to modern technology, this can be done remotely," shared Alshyn Narikovich Altybayev, Doctor of Science in Engineering, Director of the Scientific and Production Center for Agricultural Engineering (Alma-Ata, Republic of Kazakhstan), a participant in the "Agrarian Science – Agricultural Production in the CIS and BRICS" forum. As part of the section on mechanization, automation, and digitalization of agricultural production, I presented a report on the challenges of machine use in agribusiness. Machinery has always been a complex topic: new technologies emerge quickly, but their effective use in the fields is fraught with significant challenges, sometimes exceeding the development of the equipment itself. This raises the questions related to the digital transformation of technical and technological support management. The main changes concern management functions, not production processes. Remote control of complex machines, in mountainous conditions, or using drones is just the beginning of new possibilities. But to achieve maximum efficiency, it is necessary to restructure the operational management system, update the software, and adapt new work methods.
Science strives to stay ahead of these challenges by offering guidance and support to specialists implementing new management systems and technical solutions. While working at the Forum and interacting with colleagues, I received the answers to many questions, and I will certainly apply this new knowledge to the work of our center."