Russia, China plan to establish center to research soybeans - agriculture minister

KAZAN. Aug 18 (Interfax) - Russia and China are developing cooperation in agricultural science across various sectors, particularly in crop production as regarding plans to establish a center to research soybeans, Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut said.

"We are currently discussing and already have specific projects that we are implementing in four main areas. The first, of course, is crop production, which is the foundation for agriculture, and the breeding and genetics of key crops. We are currently discussing and reaching certain agreements on establishing a soybean research center," Lut said on Tuesday at the Sprouts: Russia and China - Mutually Beneficial Cooperation international forum in Kazan.

Lut said that the crop is important for both China and Russia.

"It is clear that China has a huge need for the crop. Russian climate conditions do not allow for the desired volumes of soybean cultivation. Nevertheless, we believe that joint activities and joint research should increase soybean production in Russia and boost productivity and yields in China," she said.

Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) data indicate that Russia should harvest a record soybean crop of 9 million tonnes in 2025 versus 7.1 million tonnes in 2024.

Lut also said that there are very good Chinese developments in poultry farming as part of scientific cooperation in animal husbandry, and the countries are planning joint programs with Russia's Smena-9 [a chicken cross].