On March 14, in Obninsk, Governor Vladislav Shapsha took part in the opening of a research and production agricultural complex for growing raspberries, Unionpark LLC.
The event was attended by the Minister of Agriculture of the region Leonid Gromov, the head of the Business Development Agency Stefan Perevalov, the head of the administration of Obninsk Tatyana Leonova, the founder of Unionpark LLC Artem Yarzutkin.
According to the head of the company, Unionpark is the first innovative project in Russia for the year-round cultivation of raspberries in protected ground. Advanced agrotechnical methods allow the production of organic raspberries on an industrial scale and with high profitability.
The berries are grown using the low-volume hydroponics method on a coconut substrate. There are 9500 plants in the complex. Watering, lighting, microclimate creation and product quality assessment are automated. Pollination occurs with the help of specially bred bumblebees. Berries are picked by hand.
“The health of the nation, import substitution, tax deductions to the local budget – all this makes the project significant not only for Obninsk and the Kaluga region, but for Russia,” said Artem Yarzutkin.
The yield of the greenhouse complex is up to 100 tons per year. In stores, the company’s products will be sold under the Kaluga Raspberry brand.
“Greenhouse farms are actively developing in the Kaluga region, and now there is this unique project for growing raspberries in greenhouses. I am sure that it will be successful both from the point of view of the economy and from the point of view of technological innovations. It is imperative to expand and scale this experience,” said Vladislav Shapsha.
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