Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 19 October (BelTA) – Integrating intellectual capabilities will help us put the agricultural industry on the path of innovative development, Vladimir Gusakov, Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB), said when speaking at the international conference “Technological progress in agriculture. Agrarian science for agricultural industry in Siberia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Belarus and Bulgaria”, BelTA has learned.

Vladimir Gusakov noted that agricultural science is by definition international, as evidenced by the foreign guests attending the conference. He called for joint efforts in addressing scientific problems in the agricultural industry. “It is precisely by joint efforts that we will be able to put the agricultural industry on the innovative development path and contribute significantly to the economies of our states. Therefore, we actively seek cooperation with foreign partners. A breakthrough in R&D can be achieved through the integration of intellectual capabilities,” Vladimir Gusakov said.

He noted that the international economy is moving towards a new development model, with innovations being the main growth driver. According to Vladimir Gusakov, the most important area in the agricultural R&D in Belarus is agro-industrial production as the main factor of the country’s food security. “Therefore, the role of agricultural science cannot be overestimated. All achievements in the agricultural sector over the last decade have been made thanks to agricultural science or thanks to its contribution,” Vladimir Gusakov noted. According to him, the production of competitive crops and livestock is the primary task facing the agricultural industry of any state.

The Chairman of the NASB Presidium added that the reports presented at the conference attempt to solve tasks in selection and seed breeding, development of promising crop cultivation technologies and technologies for the manufacture of animal products and processing of agricultural goods, and also in such fields as biotechnology, bioenergy and mechatronics. “Of special importance are the reports on mechanization of agriculture, since it is impossible to effectively implement advanced technologies without proper modern equipment,” Vladimir Gusakov emphasized. He expressed confidence that the research projects presented at the conference will contribute to the development of agrarian science and boost the economies of the countries.

The international conference “Technological progress in agriculture. Agrarian science for agricultural industry in Siberia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Belarus and Bulgaria” is underway at the NASB Center for Agriculture Mechanization. The event has brought together scientists from nine countries, including Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Mongolia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Kazakhstan and Moldova.

The large-scale forum discusses major topics related to food security and bilateral cooperation within the Belarus-Russia Union State. Special attention is paid to Belarus’ cooperation with the countries of the European Union and its eastern partners. Matters of interstate scientific cooperation are also in focus at the conference. The breakout sections of the forum will discuss the application of modern technologies in arable farming, plant cultivation, livestock breeding, veterinary medicine and fodder production; the processing and storage of agricultural products; effective methods of use, service and repair of farm machines; power conservation and renewable energy sources in agriculture; environment and protection of natural resources; information technology in agriculture.