The Engineering Center “Prombiotech” at Altai State University is carrying out an important project for the agro-industrial sector: the “Development of Biological Preparations for Aquaculture and Crop Production.” According to Alena Irkitova, Director and leading researcher of the center, biologists at Altai State University are addressing a pressing issue which is isolating effective microorganisms that can serve as alternatives to chemicals in agriculture.
Researchers have been actively engaged in this project for several years, supported by the “Priority 2030” state program. According to biologist Alena Irkitova, the topic is particularly relevant, as the uncontrolled use of chemicals and antibiotics in agriculture is banned in many European countries. Such substances accumulate in soil and plants, resulting in increased resistance among pathogens and placing additional strain on the environment. One effective way to address these issues is through the greening of agriculture, which is made possible by the use of bacterial strains. The Prombiotech collection currently contains more than 150 strains, and this number continues to grow. As part of this project alone, scientists at Altai State University have already bred seven promising strains that can be customized to meet the needs of major industrial partners, including the Siberian producer of Artemia crustacean cysts, Arsal Llc, as well as companies such as OOO “ZetGen” and OOO “Solntse Altaia.”
Strains from collections with established biotechnological and technically valuable properties are often utilized in the development of new biological products. However, current approaches require that biological products be customized to the specific needs and production conditions of qualified clients. Our project is focused precisely on creating such effective biological products: a probiotic for the halophyte crustacean Artemia and a plant protection product for greenhouse use. It is important to note that both products are of federal significance, as very few are addressing these challenges in Russia, including in Altai Krai. Moreover, the current generation of farmers increasingly recognizes that the future of agriculture lies in biological rather than chemical products. As a result, demand exists, and Prombiotech is successfully meeting these needs. By the way, our partner Solntse Altaya has invited me to deliver a presentation on the prospects for greening agriculture at the Day of the Siberian Field 2025, scheduled for late July. In this way, we are not only fulfilling business contracts with qualified clients, but also, in collaboration with them, promoting the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, explained Alena Irkitova from Altai State University.
In addition to developing seven strains that have successfully passed the examination by the All-Russian Collection of Industrial Microorganisms (VKPM) and are currently undergoing the deposit procedure, the authors of the project "Development of Biological Preparations for Aquaculture and Plant Growing" have submitted two patent applications: one for an enzyme preparation for plants and another for a feed additive for farm animals. As Alena emphasized, all the results obtained during the course of this project could serve as a foundation for creating a range of biological preparations for use in agriculture, the food industry, and aquaculture.
In Altai Krai, chemicals – particularly herbicides, which destroy or inhibit the growth of unwanted vegetation such as weeds – are utilized regularly, significantly altering the qualitative and quantitative composition of natural microbiomes. This, in turn, leads to soil depletion and an increased infectious load in agricultural complexes. We propose an alternative farming strategy which involves soil bioremediation, biological plant protection products, growth biostimulants, and biological products for animals, including probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and other feed additives, explained Alena Irkitova.
The immediate plans involve scaling up the project and establishing long-term partnerships with regional and federal companies, which, according to Alena Irkitova, is entirely feasible given the domestic demand for sustainable development across all sectors of the national economy.