Plans in place to start growing tropical, subtropical crops in Siberia, Russian Far East

SOCHI. April 24 (Interfax) - Projects for growing tropical and subtropical crops may be implemented in the Omsk region and Primorye Territory, Andrei Platonov, CEO of the autonomous non-profit organization Subtropics of Russia and chairman of the Farmers Union of Sochi, said at the Greenhouse Industry of Russia 2025 agricultural forum on Thursday.

"A month ago, the association signed an agreement with the Omsk region, where we will try scientific greenhouse cultivation of tropical and subtropical crops," Platonov said.

Plans are in place to set up greenhouses in the Omsk region, with lemons being the primary crop that will be grown, he said. There are also ongoing discussions about the possibility of greenhouse cultivation of tropical and subtropical crops in Primorye Territory, he said.

"We are currently having serious negotiations with Primorye Territory at the level of the regional Agriculture Ministry. In addition to setting up and testing greenhouses for tropical and subtropical crops, we also plan to plant about 1 hectare of Krasnodar tea to see how it will grow there. We will try to crossbreed it with Russian herbal tea, which is grown there, and create a healthy beverage," he said.

Previously, Platonov promised Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut that bananas grown in Russia would be presented by the end of this year.

"Today, we confirm that this is possible, and a greenhouse is being set up. There is a program, and if everything goes well, by the end of this year, we will show you bananas grown in Russia," he said, addressing Lut.

As previously reported, the greenhouse industry continued to expand its production capacities and geography in 2024. New areas were primarily introduced in the south, with selective expansions in central regions, the Volga region and the Far East.

The geography of construction is spread across most of the country's macro-regions. However, as experts note, in 2024 the most active expansion was considered to be in the eastern part of Russia, particularly in Siberia (the Omsk region).