Minister of Agriculture Oksana Lut held a meeting on the implementation of the project at the Belgorod State Agricultural University named after V.Ya. Gorin under the Priority-2030 program. The university is implementing a strategic project titled "Technological Independence of Soybean Breeding and Seed Production," which includes four areas. The first is the creation of a "Soybean" module within the platform for accelerated crop breeding (PUSK).
By the end of 2025, sequencing and bioinformatic analysis of 100 soybean variety samples were conducted, and a database of their phenotypes and genotypes was established. The second project is phenotyping wheat and barley for PUSK. Scientists have sown 100 varieties each of spring wheat and barley, with similar experiments planned for winter crops. The third project is a "Digital Assistant for Breeders" for automatic recognition of soybean plant and seed parameters from photographs.
A dataset of 750 soybean samples across 11 developmental phases has been compiled, with over 300 photographs selected. By November, a digital structural analysis module for soybeans is planned, along with the completion of software development. The fourth project is accelerated soybean breeding. By the end of the year, the university aims to develop at least 10 DNA markers for economically valuable traits, as well as finalize work on doubled haploid technologies and cell selection.
Lut instructed to continue work with an emphasis on the practical application of developments, enhancing collaboration with agribusiness, and creating solutions in demand by farmers.