Potential volumes of organic produce export from Siberia (case study of grain)

Grain crops in Siberia hold the biggest potential in organic farming in kind and value terms. All the regions of the Siberian Federal District have been traditionally engaged in growing grain crops. Grain area in the Siberian Federal District amounts to 8,992 thous. ha, that is the third biggest among the Russian Federation regions. All kind of agricultural companies (from large agribusiness holding companies to farm households) are engaged in grain production. Due to the natural climatic conditions and traditional living principles, the quality of Siberian grain has always been lacklustre. That resulted in the regional policy focused on domestic needs. Due to high logistical costs, it is unprofitable to transport grain surplus for long distances, while 15 to 25% of the gross yield of the harvested grain was enough for domestic food needs. The bigger part of the crop yield was used as fodder or for technical purposes. Under such a policy, there was no need to increase the volume of food grain of Grade 2 and 3. Thanks to the turn of the state policy to export-oriented grain production, the requirements to grain quality have also changed. Stringent requirements to the properties of grain supplied set by importing countries made Siberian grain growing go through a complete overhaul and put up the requirements to the quality of produce. Export activity in the Siberian Federal District has been flourishing for the past 5 years (seasons). Back in 2010, grain export from Siberia was just a topic for discussion, in 2015, it was in small batches from several regions, and nowadays all the constituent entities of the district are taking part in export activity. Throughout the past 6 years export supplies have grown by 5 times. Siberian regions have become full-fledged players of the export grain market side-lining such regions as: Republic of Bashkortostan and Republic of Tatarstan, Belgorod Oblast and Voronezh Oblast. The paper considers the development prospects of the Siberian grain export market, including grain with organic properties being exported to CIS and non-CIS countries.