Agrobiotechnologies-2015

The first results of the work were summed up in December – at the competition of the most promising projects. 

In early August, the cluster of biological and medical technologies of the Skolkovo Foundation opened a new direction – biotechnology in agriculture and industry. This happened after President Vladimir Putin signed amendments to the law "On the Skolkovo Innovation Center" at the end of May, which made it possible to expand research activities in innograd at the expense of biotechnologies in agriculture and industry. Within the framework of popularization of the direction and attraction of new projects, the foundation held a competition "Agrobiotechnologies-2015". 

The final of the competition was held on the eve of the New Year in the Hypercube "Skolkovo". In total, more than 100 applications were submitted for participation in the competition, said Roman Kulikov, head of the Biotechnology in Agriculture direction of the Skolkovo biomedical technologies cluster. "As a result, the winners in each of the four nominations were selected. They became AgroBioTech 2020, Solix BioSystems Vostok, Bioenergy and Agroliga," he said. 

The first winner – AgroBioTech 2020 – has developed a genetic technology that allows you to produce new crops not in five to seven years, as it is happening now, but in a year or two. "This is very important for the country, because the technology allows you to work with key crops – sugar beet, sunflower, corn, vegetables, etc.," Kulikov believes. 

Solix BioSystems Vostok received the first place in its nomination for the technology of growing microalgae that can be used as animal feed. "Microalgae are rich in trace elements and protein. Their use increases the productivity of animal husbandry," Roman Kulikov said. 

Bioenergy became a prize-winner of the Skolkovo competition for the creation of an innovative technology for fermentation of waste, as a result of which biogas, fertilizers and protein are obtained from them. "This is an extremely relevant technology. There is a lot of agricultural waste in Russia, which, unlike Western countries, is not processed in any way," Kulikov commented. 

Agroliga has developed a technology that aggregates data obtained from agricultural machinery and other sources about the state of the soil and the weather, and allows you to draw conclusions about where it is better to grow which crop. The purpose of the competition, which will be held every six months in the future, is to support projects in the field of agrobiotechnologies. "We don't just give money, we provide comprehensive support. It includes a mentoring program, grants, assistance in promoting products in Russia and abroad, and attracting partners. Globally, our task is to increase this market in Russia several times. Now it is not structured, but it has a huge potential – it can grow 2-2.5 times in five years. We expect that the development of biotechnologies will increase the share of agriculture in Russia's GDP from 3-4 to 7% in about ten years," Roman Kulikov explained. 

He noted that all the winners of the competition have become residents of the foundation and can apply for grants. According to Kulikov, in the future, agricultural producers in Russia will grow plants not only for food, but also for the production of fuel and bioplastics. 

"The demand for such projects exists and is growing in proportion to the dollar exchange rate. When we buy everything in the West – I mean seeds and so on for growing the final product, this is fundamentally wrong. We must have strategic competencies in agriculture. Now many companies understand the sanctions and currency risks and are gradually paying attention to new projects in the field of biotechnology. This is not a quick process, but on the horizon of three to five years we can form a market in Russia," Kulikov said. 

According to him, large international companies are also showing interest in Skolkovo projects. Already in January, the foundation held a presentation in Astrakhan, during which there was a meeting with Governor Alexander Zhilkin. Within the framework of the presentation, more than ten projects on the selection of vegetable and melon crops, aquaculture, deep processing of agricultural crops were presented. Possible areas of cooperation with residents or partners of Skolkovo are outlined in all directions. 

Earlier, the foundation reported that by 2020, Skolkovo will have almost 200 residents implementing projects in the field of biotechnology in agriculture and industry. These companies will employ over 1,000 people. The estimated attracted private investments for six years are estimated at about 5 billion rubles, the possible revenue of residents for the same time period is more than 7 billion rubles. 

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02.02.2015