How can entrepreneurship and scientific activity be combined harmoniously and effectively? A breeder with 42 years of experience Yuri Panchev who founded the "Research Center for Breeding, Seed Production, and Agrotechnology" LLC in 2000 knows the answer well. The organization has developed over 180 varieties and hybrids of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and eggplants vegetable crops traditional to Pridnestrovie. Vadim Krasnoselsky met with the scientist-entrepreneur today in the course of inspection visit to Slobodzeya District. The President was accompanied by the head of the district state administration Vasily Tishchenko. The Research Center manages 16 hectares of land used for breeding nurseries. 6.5 hectares of this area are under cover; the greenhouses use plastic film exclusively, and the cultivated area is expanding. Yuri Panchev told the head of state that the installation of a new, modern complex is planned for this year, although structures assembled in the early 2000s are still successfully in use. The center’s scientific developments are in high demand within the vegetable-growing sector; seedlings are purchased by both large-scale agricultural producers and home gardeners. Popular items on the seed market include today "Sanka" and "Zolotoye Serdtse" (Golden Heart) tomato varieties; "Primadonna" and "Molva" hybrids; "Polet," "Aleksey" and "Kirill" peppers; and the "Krasny Rog" (Red Horn) and "Krasny Khobot" (Red Trunk) varieties the latter two named for their distinctive elongated, cone-like shape. Each new variety is the result of years of scientific research and practical breeding work. Developing a new variety takes at least a decade; for instance, it took 17 years from the initial cross-breeding to obtaining the patent for the "Primadonna F" hybrid. A key detail is that the breeders from Slobodzeya rely exclusively on classical methods, eschewing genetic modification technologies. They operate on a full-cycle basis, handling everything from hybrid development to seed harvesting and sales. The vegetable varieties and hybrids developed by the Pridnestrovian center are listed in the state registries of various countries. The breeder noted that the "Polet" pepper variety developed in Pridnestrovie is grown in regions ranging from Novosibirsk to Turkey, and he claims it has no equal. There is an order for 1.5 tons of seeds for this variety this year. However, the scientists are not resting on their laurels; they are adapting to changing trends. Consequently, they have developed a new variety called "Zolotoy Polet" (Golden Polet). It shares the same characteristics as the classic version but differs in its yellow color.
Vadim Krasnoselsky asked what happens to the vegetables themselves – the source of the seeds. These are considered a by-product for the breeders and seed producers. Yuri Panchev explained that the seed-bearing pods are often supplied to social institutions free of charge, though some are also sold. Production waste does not go to waste either; it is turned into compost to fertilize the fields (collection points have been set up on the premises). The President inquired about the water supply for irrigation; the organization maintains two lakes for this purpose. Facilities for primary processing (washing) and seed drying are also in place. The PMR President asked finally about staffing. The center currently employs around forty specialists, yet there is a constant shortage of manual labor. The participants discussed traditional breeding methods and new technologies, as well as issues related to product sales, including exports. Vadim Krasnoselsky highlighted the importance of combining scientific research with the practical application of its results, emphasizing that breeding is a key applied science for an agrarian state, contributing to the assurance of food security.
