Researchers at the Institute of Agrobiotechnologies (Komi Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences) have been experimenting since 2021 with a novel method of treating seed potatoes using weak electromagnetic fields (extremely high-frequency radiation). Over five years, they have demonstrated that pre-planting and in-season exposure improves tuber formation, increases disease resistance, and raises yields by 20%, while storage losses drop from 10–15% to just 1–6%. In 2025, the Grodno State Agrarian University joined the project. This season, experimental fields in Syktyvkar feature local varieties “Pechorsky” and “Vychegodsky,” alongside Belarusian varieties “Manifest” and “Flamingo.”
The method does not replace fertilizers but can reduce chemical usage when combined with them. Scientists propose equipping farm machinery and drones with generators for large-scale seed treatment, though widespread adoption in Russia awaits federal expert approval. In Belarus, however, the technology could be implemented sooner based on trial results. Critics question the method’s effectiveness, and the device costs over 3 million rubles, making it inaccessible to small farms—unlike cheaper soil conditioners developed by Komi scientists from wood industry waste, which help reduce northern soil acidity.
