Analysis of the current situation on the provision of seeds for vegetable crops in Russia

The work of a non-governmental organization (AIRSC) in the field of providing seeds for vegetable crops of agriculture of the Russian Federation is shown. The main problems of the vegetable breeding and seed production industry at the present stage are presented: a small proportion of domestic varieties and hybrids in domestic commercial vegetable growing, not always a sufficient level of competitiveness of domestic breeding developments; a serious lag in the use of modern, including biotechnological methods of breeding; reduction of vegetable crop production in Russia; the lack of dedicated seed production zones; a small number of seed producers and the practical absence of farms equipped with modern machines and tools for seed production of vegetable crops and seed cleaning equipment, owning modern industrial seed production technologies; an acute shortage of highly professional specialists; increasing administrative pressure on members of the AIRSC, unpredictability and regulatory instability in the field of breeding and seed production, plant quarantine, control and supervisory activities in other areas as well. Practical steps are shown to implement the main goal of the Board of Directors and the Executive Directorate – to protect the interests of Association members on the sites of state and other organizations and institutions, to remove excessive administrative barriers in all areas affecting business activity and partnerships in our industry, to find ways to form transparent and effective legislation. In 2023, a number of working meetings and workshops with representatives of government agencies took place; 11 meetings of the AIRSC Board of Directors were held, at which important decisions were discussed and made; the executive directorate, with the participation of the Board of Directors, as well as members of the AIRSC, prepared more than 45 official letters to government agencies, in which they proposed amendments, comments and additions to regulatory legal acts to optimize legislation in the selection and seed production of vegetable crops. The ways out of the crisis of the breeding and seed industry in the country are formulated.

Key  words: breeding, seed production, AIRSC, vegetable crops, seeds.