Russia: Imports of sunflower and corn seeds from unfriendly countries may be banned

Russia is contemplating a ban on imports of sunflower and corn seeds from countries it considers unfriendly, setting a zero quota for these imports. This decision is based on the sufficient domestic seed supply and the high yield results from these crops. The ban will not affect high-oleic sunflower and waxy corn seeds, as production and stock levels exceed the demand for the 2025 sowing campaign. The National Seed Alliance supports this initiative and highlights the superior yields of domestic hybrids compared to foreign counterparts. The Ministry of Agriculture is planning to gradually reduce imported seed volumes as domestic production grows and farmers increasingly prefer domestic breeding achievements.

Russia may impose a ban on imports of sunflower and corn seeds from unfriendly countries, setting a zero quota, Izvestia writes, citing a source close to the Ministry of Agriculture. The current import quota was not used up, and domestic seeds of these crops showed decent yield results. At the same time, the ban will not affect high-oleic sunflower and waxy corn, for which quota volumes are planned to be maintained at the 2024 level, the publication writes. According to preliminary estimates, the production and stocks of sunflower and corn seeds exceed the projected need for the 2025 sowing campaign. The National Seed Alliance (HCA) supports the initiative. “We have calculated the stocks and are confident that we have enough seeds of these crops in our country,” Igor Lobach, Chairman of the HCA Council, told Agroinvestor. — With the market demand for sunflower seeds of 44 thousand tons in Russia, we have a total of about 50 thousand tons of domestic and foreign seeds, that is, 6 ...