Project Goals
The “Potato Tour of Russia” is a large-scale initiative aimed at showcasing the achievements of Russian agriculture, particularly potato farming, and creating a platform for professional dialogue within the industry. As project founder Viktor Kovalev explains, the idea was born after visiting several countries where he realized that both foreign and domestic audiences know little about the real progress of Russian potato production. The tour’s goals include:
- Promoting potatoes and Russian agrotechnologies. The project highlights the achievements of modern potato farming in Russia, showing what the country has to be proud of. Through video reports and articles, it presents cutting-edge technologies for growing, storing, and processing potatoes, as well as the success stories of Russian farmers and breeders.
- Agricultural education and knowledge exchange. The project has an educational mission—by traveling across farms and regions, it gathers and disseminates practical knowledge. It connects farmers, researchers, and industry leaders to share experiences and learn from each other. The project emphasizes that “we have something to teach each other—not only in Russia, but worldwide.”
- International cooperation and global outreach. A key goal is to build connections with international partners and promote Russian potato production to the world. The tour’s content is available in multiple languages, helping raise awareness among foreign experts and potential partners. Global engagement is encouraged through interviews and multilingual reports.
- Creating a professional community. The project fosters a growing network of potato industry professionals, from farm owners to agronomists. The tour serves as a hub for discussions, partnerships, and the exchange of best practices, strengthening the social and professional fabric of the sector.
- Educational, not touristic. Despite the name, this is not an agrotourism project in the traditional sense. Kovalev makes it clear that the aim is not entertainment, but industry development, knowledge-sharing, and professional storytelling.
Project Objectives
To achieve its goals, the Potato Tour follows a series of consistent steps:
- Travel to key potato-producing regions. Viktor Kovalev visits leading farms across Russia—from Nizhny Novgorod to the Far East. These trips allow for firsthand insights into regional production, challenges, and innovation.
- Meetings and interviews with key players. The tour features exclusive interviews with farm owners, agronomists, researchers, and business leaders, discussing technology, production methods, challenges, and visions for the future. These interviews are filmed on-site and published in long-form formats.
- Creation and distribution of media content. The project produces documentary-style videos and articles published on YouTube, Rutube, and Potatoes.News. Content includes farm stories, expert interviews, technological showcases, and industry analysis. This ensures wide reach and active engagement across social media and professional platforms.
- Educational field events. Many trips include workshops, open-field days, demonstrations, and variety tastings, organized together with local farming associations and scientific institutions. These on-site events promote the transfer of best practices.
- Participation in exhibitions and forums. The tour is integrated into major agro-exhibitions, such as the AgroTech Expo: Potato Vegetables Fruits in Moscow. At such venues, the project presents its vision, meets stakeholders, and hosts expert discussions with national organizations like the Potato Union.
- Engagement of partners and sponsors. The tour actively invites collaboration from agricultural companies, technology providers, and seed producers. In return, partners gain brand exposure and direct involvement in industry promotion.
Impact on the Industry
The project is already bringing tangible benefits to the Russian potato sector and beyond:
- Community building. The project has united a wide range of potato professionals, enabling meaningful connections, collaboration, and mutual support among growers and industry players from different regions.
- Knowledge dissemination and technology adoption. By showcasing successful examples of innovation, the tour encourages the adoption of modern technologies and practices, helping raise the overall standard of production and storage.
- Improving the image and visibility of Russian potatoes. Through storytelling, the project enhances public perception of Russian potatoes as a high-quality, domestically produced food. It helps promote trust in local varieties and supports the growth of national brands.
- Raising interest in rural areas and agroregions. While not aimed at tourism, the tour’s visual stories have helped generate broader public interest in farming, regional development, and rural life, attracting attention from younger generations and urban viewers.
- Attracting investment and support. Farms featured in the project benefit from increased visibility, new business contacts, and sometimes direct investment. Sponsors and state bodies gain better understanding of the sector’s needs and potential.
- Strengthening export potential. By showing international audiences the capabilities of Russian potato production—from elite seed material to large-scale storage facilities—the tour lays the foundation for improved export visibility and credibility.
Conclusion:
The “Potato Tour of Russia” is not just a media campaign—it is a strategic industry development project. It raises the profile of Russian agriculture, facilitates knowledge exchange, boosts community cohesion, and supports the export image of Russian potatoes. Thanks to the personal efforts of Viktor Kovalev, this initiative has become a model of how media, professionalism, and enthusiasm can drive real change in the agri-food sector.
