In the homeland of the "father of apples": FAO at the "Gardener’s Day 2023" in Michurinsk

On 14 September, the Overview of the fruit and vegetable sector in Eurasian and Economic Union countries, prepared by the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (Budapest) with the technical assistance of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), was presented in Russia. It presents an analysis of the situation and current trends in the development of the industry in the member countries of the Union. 

The presentation was held during the seventeenth all-Russian exhibition Gardener’s Day 2023 in Michurinsk, Tambov region. 

FAO held a separate section during the first day’s programme, moderated by Oleg Kobiakov, Director of the FAO Liaison Office with the Russian Federation.

Opening the exhibition, Mikhail Akimov, Director of the Federal Scientific Centre named after I.V. Michurin, said: “We have identified national priorities, approved the doctrine of food security of the Russian Federation, which has clearly spelled out the vectors of development of the domestic agricultural sector in terms of self-sufficiency, import substitution and increasing the competitiveness of the Russian assortment of goods in the food market.”

“All areas, in which our scientific institutions, the system of scientific support, horticultural enterprises and agricultural holdings operate today, are of paramount importance. In the first place, of course, is breeding - the formation of a sustainable adaptive assortment, which allows to provide the population with high-quality high-vitamin products. 

Horticulture plays a special role in the structure of the population's consumption of products. These products are unique sources of macro- and micronutrients, antioxidants that protect the body from the stress of the environment, from technology-related risks, and from environmental factors. These products prevent the development of nutrition-related diseases, which, in turn, reduce life expectancy and quality.

New technologies today should provide for rational investments,” Mikhail Akimov concluded. “Horticulture is a capital-intensive sector of the agro-industrial complex and a very knowledge-intensive industry. Each agronomist should consider these features, competently implement new technological solutions in conjunction with science and education, from production, harvesting, storage, to the delivery of products to the consumer, moreover, on a year-round basis.”

"In the past, the area of orchards decreased every year. The number of imported apples on the shelves of our stores increased, while their pesticide content was off-scale. Horticulture essentially started to develop about 15 years ago. Measures of state support have been determined,” Petr Chekmarev, Deputy President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said in his welcoming speech. But there have been problems. Where can we get seedlings of competitive plant varieties, plant protection products, horticultural machinery?" 

“Today, 15-17 thousand new orchards are planted every year… We are able to grow all crops – if not on open ground, in greenhouses though,” Petr Chekmarev continued. “Now all the necessary elements for the construction of greenhouses are produced in Russia: from the structure itself to mechanization, microclimate, and nutrition. At our conference, we need to define: what are we lacking in horticulture? What does science have to give us to ensure that we develop by using domestic technology and varieties?"

The Overview of the fruit and vegetable sector of the Eurasian and Economic Union Countries analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of this sub-sector in each country, provides specific conclusions and recommendations,” Oleg Kobiakov, Director of the FAO Moscow Office, said.

“Experts may also be interested in analyzing the situation in individual EAEU countries, given the traditionally close ties between scientists, breeders-practitioners, as well as trade counterparties, especially since we have been witnessing a steady trend of increasing trade turnover within the EAEU.”

The findings and recommendations of the Overview were presented by Viliami Fakava, FAO Plant Production and Protection Officer. “Studies have shown that fruit and vegetable consumption is increasing worldwide as more consumers value the taste and nutritional qualities of diets rich in fruits and vegetables,” he said. At the same time, the development of the fruit and vegetable sector is a priority in strategies and action plans for the development of agriculture and food in all five EAEU countries.

The analysis, conducted by FAO specialists with the technical assistance of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), has revealed the key problems faced by each of the EAEU countries, and identified the opportunities for growth of the fruit and vegetable sector. 

Among the priority areas for the development of the fruit and vegetable sector of the agro-industrial complex, Viliami Fakava said, experts named the following: 

• improving value chains to increase the volume of high value added products through improved processing and packaging technologies, including organic products;
• establishing demonstration farms and training farmers in field schools of good agricultural practices;
• plant and seed breeding to produce high-yielding varieties that are resistant to pests, diseases and climate change.

Concluding, Viliami Fakava stated: “There are favourable conditions and significant opportunities for further development of a strong, competitive and sustainable fruit and vegetable sector in all five EAEU countries.”

“Horticulture is an integral part for ensuring food security in all countries of the Eurasian Economic Union. The Overview has really turned out to be rich in information, it reveals both the current state and prospects for the development of the market,” Aina Kusainova, Deputy Director of the Agricultural Policy Department of the Eurasian Economic Commission and coordinator of the FAO part of the report, noted. 

“Experts estimate that the market capacity for import substitution of fruit and vegetable products in the EAEU is at least USD 1 billion. The Union countries import USD 800 million worth of apples and pears alone every year. This is significantly more than the state support measures, for example, in Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Kazakhstan. There are good prospects for import substitution for other fruit crops, such as strawberries and plums. Along with the supply of fresh fruits and berries, we can increase our own processing."

The Overview provides reasoned recommendations, in particular, to increase the amount of funding for developing production capacities, logistics infrastructure, including modern fruit storage facilities, as well as for providing targeted support to increase the yield of fruit crops. We are confident, Aina Kusainova said in conclusion, that the Overview will be useful both for representatives of the fruit industry and potential investors.”

Touching upon the problem of soil pollution, Alexey Soldatenko, an academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, who represented the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center, noted that "given the mechanization and chemicalization of agriculture, the implementation of chemical-technogenic farming systems, the ecological state of the natural environment has sharply deteriorated." 

“The market for organic products is one of the most dynamically developing in the world. According to forecasts, by 2025 the volume of the market for organic products may reach from 3% to 5% of the world market for agricultural products,” Soldatenko noted.

“When growing environmentally sound vegetable crops, we should pay special attention to crop rotation as a system of rational use of land. Crop rotation can increase yields by 15-20%, improve product quality, reduce the harmfulness of diseases and salinity in the fields. 

“Scientists of the Federal Horticulture Scientific Centre have created 1483 varieties and hybrids of vegetable, melons, spicy-taste, unconventional and floral crops for 120 crops,” Soldatenko said in conclusion. “There are 1293 of them in the State Register of Breeding Achievements approved for use in 2021.” 

In Russia, fruits and berries account for only 3.6% in the structure of the energy value of diets for the main groups of food products," Elena Smirnova, an expert of the Federal Research Centre for Nutrition and Biotechnology, who delivered a report entitled "Fruits and berries in the structure of nutrition of the population of the Russian Federation: consumption dynamics and tasks for the near future", said. 

The recommendations for the consumption of fruits and berries as a “source of vitamins, dietary fibers, minerals and minor components of food” state that it is necessary to include in your diet at least 2-4 servings of this food per day (one medium-sized fruit and one handful of berries, about 250 grams in total), the expert noted.

However, in reality, the average per capita consumption of fruits and berries by Russians, counting only adults and grams per day, only in two subjects exceeds 200 grams. Statistics for the Central Federal District show that in terms of regular consumption (residents over 14 years of age) of vegetables, the Ryazan region ranks first and the Tambov region last; in terms of fresh fruit consumption, the Ryazan region is again in the lead, with the Kaluga region lagging behind. 

In general, in terms of fruit and vegetable consumption (g/day), Russia ranks fourth from the bottom compared to all European countries (the top ones are Greece, Israel and Türkiye). 

“Despite the positive trend of recent years, the situation in Russia cannot be considered favourable,” Elena Smirnova concluded. Low consumption is typical for all groups of the population, regardless of the place of residence. The level of consumption depends on the financial situation of the family and the size of the household. A significant number of the population (25-40%) does not include vegetables and fruits in their daily diet and does not consider it important.

The FAO section at the Gardener's Day in Michurinsk ended with a lively discussion about the importance of pollinators for the industry – most horticulture plants are cross-pollinated. The participants concluded that beekeeping in orchards is promising, as the increase in yield with an apiary in an orchard can be 20-40%.