Innovative Home Potato Cultivation Method Introduced by Russian Scientists Amid Supply Concerns

Scientists from the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) revealed a new technique for cultivating potatoes in home environments, as reported by the state-owned news agency RIA Novosti on Thursday.

The innovation was developed by researchers at the St. Petersburg Federal Research Center, a branch of RAS, amid concerns about a potential shortage of potatoes and increasing prices in the country.

Nikolai Semchuk, a lead researcher at the Novgorod Research Institute of Agriculture, informed RIA Novosti that “this novel approach eliminates the need for expensive reagents or specialized farming tools.”

“We have created a method that safeguards potato tubers from diseases, enabling them to thrive indoors, whether in apartments, houses, or summer cottages,” he added.

While specifics regarding the method were not disclosed, Semchuk mentioned that it allows for a “sufficient yield” of potatoes in “short time frames.”

Potato prices surged by 85% in 2024, according to market insiders cited by Kommersant.

Some areas have ceased potato exports following the price hikes and a reported shortage.

In response to the looming national shortfall, Russia began permitting duty-free potato imports from “friendly” nations in January.

In April, Duma Deputy Boris Chernyshov proposed that the government temporarily regulate the retail prices of potatoes.

The Agriculture Ministry stated to the state-run TASS news agency that potato imports have more than tripled since the beginning of the year, reaching a total of 548,000 tons, with Egypt and China being the primary sources.