The creation of a laboratory of genetics, breeding and biotechnology of vegetable crops at the university will provide a qualitatively new level of training for Russian breeders using the latest equipment. It will contribute to the development of breeding in the Russian Federation.
Deputy Head of the FAS Russia Gennady Magazinov, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Russia Maxim Uvaydov, Rector of the Russian State Agricultural University named after K.A. Timiryazev, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vladimir Trukhachev, representatives of Bayer and the Center for Technology Transfer of the National Research University Higher School of Economics were present at the opening ceremony.
The laboratory is equipped with modern equipment for researching crops and tissues at the molecular and cellular levels. Its creation was financed, among other things, by Bayer - this is one of the conditions of the order of the FAS Russia, issued when agreeing on the merger of Bayer and Monsanto. On the basis of the laboratory, Russian specialists will be trained in methods of accelerated selection as part of a technology transfer project.
The technology transfer is one of the conditions of the order issued by the FAS of Russia to Bayer when considering an application for the purchase of Monsanto. According to the order, Bayer is obliged to transfer to Russian breeders the molecular breeding agents and germplasm necessary for the development of new varieties and hybrids of agricultural crops. In addition, as part of the technology transfer, Skoltech has created a state-of-the-art research and training centre for plant biotechnology.
As noted by Genady Magazinov, the project to create an educational and scientific centre, implemented as part of the execution of the FAS Russia order, is unprecedented in the practice of applying antimonopoly legislation when considering transactions in innovative markets. Laboratory of genetics, created at the RSAU-Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K.A. Timiryazev, is part of this project aimed at increasing the competitiveness of Russian breeding in the world market.
Source: FAS
