Drone and Innovation Forum: "For Agriculture - Future" Kicked Off in Tomsk
Firing Up the Future of Agro: Tomsk's Innovation Summit
23 APR, TOMSK - RIA TOMSK. The second national forum "For Agriculture - Future," geared towards advancing innovation in farming and forestry, kicked off this Wednesday at the Tomsk Agricultural College. Featuring advanced technologies and farm products, informative lectures, master classes, and drone competitions, this event promises to be bursting with agriculture excitement, the correspondent of RIA Tomsk reports.
Natalia Kiseleva, deputy governor for education, youth policy, and digital development, underscored the unique character of this Tomsk forum compared to similar events in other regions.
"In Tomsk's agricultural landscape, where farming under risky conditions is the norm, we are uniquely poised to address novel agricultural solutions. This spirit has been our guiding principle for the second forum...The fusion of education and the real economy in agriculture proves our joint, righteous path," she said.
"Drones are revolutionizing agriculture by solving fundamental issues that demonstrate the agro sector's transition from manual labor to high-tech production. And drone operators in agriculture are as crucial as engineers, just as agriculture is far more than a simple plow or scythe. It's smart farming now," Kiseleva added.
Embracing the Promising Agro Sector
Sergei Illyin, CEO of Sybagro, stressed that the forum presents an excellent opportunity to capture the attention of the academic and industrial agricultural communities and inspire future students about the appeal of agricultural careers.
"Robots and AI are already at work on our farms, and software tools are making decisions and running algorithms. But you can't replace a human being, so work in the field, with animals — that requires smart, highly qualified professionals," he said.
Illyin noted that the potential for training highly skilled labor in Tomsk's region is high and could successfully supply agriculture enterprises with qualified personnel.
"With 14,000 employees working on Sybagro's projects in over 10 Russian regions, a quarter of whom specialize in agricultural biotechnology, zoo technology, veterinary medicine, agronomy, and mechanization...These are the people who need to be prepared to a very high professional standard," he added.
Bonus Insights:This Tomsk forum distinguishes itself in three unique ways:
- Targeting Siberian-Specific Climate and Forestry Innovations
- Embraces Boreal Expertise: By focusing on technologies tailored to cold-climate farming, the forum tackles challenges specific to Western Siberia, such as frost-resistant crops, permafrost-compatible soil management, and sustainable forestry practices to combat climate-induced thawing.
- Puts emphasis on Carbon Sequestration: Unlike forums in temperate regions, it highlights Siberia's role as a carbon sink and showcases innovations, such as AI-driven forest monitoring and peatland restoration, to bolster carbon storage.
- Integrating Academic Research with Industry
- Leverages Tomsk's Science Hub: The event presents real-world projects like drone-based reforestation, biodegradable agro-textiles, and precision agriculture tools optimized for low-population areas, thanks to the area's dense concentration of universities and research institutes.
- Highlights Tech Transfer: Unlike generic agritech events, it emphasizes the transfer of lab-developed technologies to the fields and dedicates pitch sessions to Siberian startups pioneering smart agricultural techniques.
- Cross-Border Eurasian Collaboration
- Functions as a bridge between Russian and Asian agritech markets, focusing on export-oriented solutions like cold-chain logistics for Siberia-to-Asia food exports and joint research in drought-resistant forestry.
- Spotlights Circular Economy: Sessions on closed-loop agroforestry (e.g., waste-to-biochar systems) garner international interest from partners seeking sustainable models for resource-scarce regions.
Bottom Line: While most agricultural forums focus on wide-ranging technology trends, the Tomsk event zeroes in on hyperlocal challenges (e.g., permafrost degradation) while positioning Siberia as a global testing ground for resilient climate solutions. This dual focus sets it apart.
- Agrobespilotnikimi, strong drones are revolutionizing agriculture by addressing fundamental issues in the sector, transitioning it from manual labor to high-tech production.
- In section two of the event, cyberscurity will be crucial as discussions center around data-and-cloud-computing, artificial-intelligence, and cutting-edge gadgets in the agro sector.
- With the goal of addressing novel agricultural solutions under risky conditions, the Tomsk forum encourages the fusion of education with the real economy, creating a pathway for highly skilled agrobespilotnikim to supply the industry with qualified professionals.
- On day three, the forum will focus on cross-border Eurasian collaboration, highlighting export-oriented solutions like Siberia-to-Asia food exports and joint research in drought-resistant forestry.
- Overall, the Tomsk innovation summit exemplifies the region's unique ability to act as a global testing ground for resilient climate solutions, attracting agriculture professionals from around the world.
