Automation in Breeding: AI to Boost Russian Seed Production

Russian seed production is entering a new stage of development. At the Tanais agricultural complex in the Voronezh region, the NERPA EAM system—developed by Novosoft for asset management and equipment maintenance—is being implemented.

EAM for Agriculture

Until recently, Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) systems were not widely used in Russia’s agricultural engineering sector. Yet they are invaluable tools, allowing organizations to track, analyze, and optimize the use of physical assets throughout their life cycle.

When powered by AI, EAM systems are especially effective for managing assets in companies with numerous production sites spread across different locations. In Russia, they have traditionally been used in energy, housing and utilities, and the oil and gas industry.

Now, EAM is making its way into agriculture. For instance, in the international agroholding Sodruzhestvo, the transition to an economically justified asset management strategy through EAM immediately improved financial performance. Labor costs in operations fell by 15%, emergency and insurance stock levels dropped by 20%, inventory turnover increased by 20%, and operating and administrative expenses were cut by 10%.

This project was implemented by Desnol Soft, a Russian center of competence in digital maintenance and repair, which has delivered more than 250 EAM projects in industry. EAM systems have also been successfully deployed in Rusagro, Russia’s largest sunflower oil producer, which manages assets across multiple regions.

Wherever there is equipment, asset management is essential. The question is: how? From an asset management perspective, there are four main areas of optimization, each with key risks and benefits: improving overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), reducing equipment repair costs, lowering working capital, and optimizing organizational structure and labor costs. Companies typically set their goals with one of these four areas in mind

Denis Trufakin

Director of the Maintenance and Repair Expertise Center at Desnol Soft

Seed Producers Adopt EAM

Russian plant breeders are also embracing EAM. At the Tanais agricultural complex in Pavlovsky district, Voronezh region, Novosoft’s NERPA EAM system is being introduced for asset and maintenance management.

Tanais specializes in breeding and producing seed material, with programs for corn and sunflower, as well as field production of sunflower, corn, soybeans, winter rapeseed, and alfalfa. The facility includes a modern seed processing plant that meets all international quality standards.

NERPA EAM will be customized for the farm’s needs, providing detailed records of all machinery, creating preventive maintenance schedules, and tracking unplanned repair activities. Special emphasis will be placed on monitoring spare parts and materials, with the ability to track the usage history for each piece of equipment individually.

The system will cover the entire Tanais complex, improving service and repair oversight, making processes more transparent and predictable, boosting process control, reducing breakdown risks, and minimizing maintenance costs.

Advancing Plant Breeding

Adopting EAM in seed production supports a strategically vital segment of Russia’s agricultural sector. Under the national agricultural development program, one of the key projects focuses on seed production. By 2030, domestically bred seeds should account for 75% of the market, as outlined in the country’s Food Security Doctrine.

By improving asset management for breeders, EAM promotes growth across the entire crop production sector. At the same time, the Russian IT industry is demonstrating the expertise to create automation solutions not only for industrial holdings but also for specialized agricultural segments, enabling farmers to develop digital production systems and smart farming technologies, including remote asset monitoring.

Boosting Agricultural Efficiency

IT solutions have become a key driver of efficiency in Russian farming. In the future, EAM will likely integrate into larger ERP systems that unify business processes, linking the financial and production operations of agricultural enterprises.

The successful use of EAM in agriculture could open export opportunities for Russian solutions in CIS countries. Longer term, EAM technology could become a Russian export product for developing nations. Combined with breeding expertise, digital tools, and AI, these solutions will be in demand across the Global South and Latin America. Their combination of affordability, high efficiency, and adaptability to local conditions will make them especially attractive, helping partner nations build modern agricultural technologies.