A second wonderful statement, this time from Russian President Dimitry Medvedev, delivered to the World Grain Forum in St Petersburg in June 2009.
“…To finish my introductory speech, I would like to emphasize the absolute importance of research in crop science. Therefore, it is utterly not by accident that this forum is held in St Petersburg, home city for the Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry –- a research centre of global significance, the holder of a unique collection of more than 200,000 crop accessions. Searching for innovations, applying modern agricultural technologies and using achievements of plant breeding and seed science are the requisites for dynamic development of grain production.”
Did he have some inkling of the devastation awaiting Russia’s wheat harvest, and much else, in 2010? And does his heartfelt concern about the importance of research and plant breeding extend beyond grains to, say, the fruits and berries currently still at risk in the field genebanks of Pavlovsk Experiment Station?
Photo by kromka, used with permission.
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Hello Jeremy, just came across a world news internet(not web) site with some 13 videos about Vavilov. Of immediate importance is a Voice of America special English broadcast on video relating to the Pavelosk Experimental Station. Also featured is a tour of the Puskin Station and an avant garde opera filmed by a modern Nikolai Vavilov which is a little racy . See what you think.
http://wn.com/Nikolai_Vavilov
Regards, Barry Mendel Cohen
Many Thanks, Barry. We had linked to the VoA Special Broadcast when it came out. Will look at the others.