Family Farms in Russia and U.S.-Russian Collaboration

Date/Time:	Monday, 18 Oct 2010 at 7:00 pm
Location:	Great Hall, Memorial Union
Cost:	Free
Contact:
Phone:	515-294-9934
Channel:	Lecture Series
Categories:	Lectures Live Green
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"Family Farms in Russia and U.S.-Russian Collaboration," Senator Vladimir Plotnikov, a member of the Upper Chamber of the Russian Parliament. He is president of the Association of Private Farmers and Cooperatives of Russia (AKKOR). AKKOR works to protect the rights and interests of small- and medium-sized Russian farmers and represents farmers associations and partnerships in the Russian Federation. Part of the World Affairs Series.

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The organization also coordinates farmers' entrepreneurial activity in order to increase the efficiency of farming, enhance the quality of life in rural communities, and make sure that farming is recognized as an important component of the Russian economy. AKKOR is working to revive programs established between Iowa and Russian farmers.

From the St. Petersburg Times, October 12, 2007:

Vladimir Plotnikov, head of Russia's Agrarian Party, said a significant amount of food in Russia is made by foreign producers.

"As soon as the world price of food goes up, products in Russia become more expensive," Plotnikov said to Rosbalt. "Therefore there's only one way out: the rebirth of our national agriculture, to restore the Russian villages that we've almost completely destroyed."

Every year Russia's fields get smaller, cattle numbers decrease, and the deficit in food is covered by imports. Today the country spends no more than 1 percent of the federal budget on agriculture, instead of the necessary 5 percent, Plotnikov said.