Establishment and main achievements of agricultural science in the Altai Region

Abstract

The milestones of agricultural science in the Altai Region are discussed including the establishment of large and in some cases the only research institutes in Siberia or whole Russia which work in agronomy, crop production, gardening, animal husbandry, cheese making and processing of agricultural products. The current state of research institutions in the Altai Region and their main achievements are highlighted. Over the years of existence of the research institutes, they developed more than 130 varieties of field crops, more than 500 varieties of fruit, berry and ornamental crops; 4 breeds and 4 breed types of animals were registered; more than 200 inventor’s certificates and patents were received; several hundreds of scientific and technical documents for cheeses and dairy products were released; more than 60 units of milk processing equipment were designed; about 180 velvet antler maral enterprises operating in 18 Russian regions with the total herd more than 100 thousand heads were established; comprehensive environmentally friendly schemes of prevention and therapy of infectious and invasive diseases of farm animals were developed; new ways and technologies of preparation, conservation and processing of velvet antler products were designed; more than 130 publications such as monographs, study guides, proceedings, methodological recommendations were published. At present, six leading farming industry research institutes of region are united in a single scientific center Federal Altai Scientific Center of Agro-Biotechnologies and, despite of the new status, they continue to conduct research in their areas ensuring scientific support of the farming industry.