Russia Delivers Its Verdict on AI in Agriculture
According to a new poll released by VTsIOM on September 18, Russians are cautiously optimistic about using artificial intelligence in farming, though trust varies widely by age and knowledge level.
Interestingly, urban residents familiar with the use of AI in agriculture outnumber rural residents by 10%. Another telling detail: representatives of the “digital generation” (17%) and the “reform generation” (12%) showed the highest awareness of AI in farming, while millennials lagged noticeably behind.
If the digital generation’s lead is easy to explain, the higher awareness among the reform generation appears linked to the fact that many of its members now hold senior positions and are expected to stay on top of modern trends.
About 40% of respondents believe that artificial intelligence will make the agricultural sector more efficient, particularly through monitoring soil, air, water, crops, and livestock, as well as optimizing logistics.
Yet only one-third of survey participants said they are ready to consume products produced with AI involvement. Among skeptics, the strongest resistance came from the “stagnation generation,” with 35% unwilling to accept food created by human–AI collaboration. The survey also found that trust in the technology correlates directly with knowledge levels: the less people know about AI, the more skeptical they are.
According to forecasts from the National Artificial Intelligence Foundation, the digital maturity of Russia’s agricultural sector could approach 100% by 2030. Currently, more than 60% of the sector has been digitized.
