In terms of food, Russia has huge opportunities to offer a more natural product. The areas available to Russia for food production, given a relatively small population, mean that Russian farming can be much more natural and less chemically dependent. Self sufficiency is a relatively easy thing to attain, providing we keep the Biofuel barrons at bay. Russia needs to develop a naturally based differentiated product, in contrast to the intense farming products available in the west. We need do this, and develop a different product quality, one that suits our domestic market, and also, with correct marketing, can offer a quality natural product for export. Quality and value should be our guiding future principles, Quality not quantity per area, should be our guiding light. There is lots to do, but lets keep walking our own road. Part of this road should include, uncorruptable food standards and quality control, something we certainly don't have now. In terms of foreign products, I would ask people to be far more careful, not because foreign products are necessarily bad, but because many times you don't know if you are receiving the real product. A bottle of mineral water, can be packaged nicely, however, it could come from the local river, the same goes for many other products. The price premium, often means counterfeit goods are a very lucrative market. So in short, let's play to our strengths and develop differentiated quality naturally farmed products. This will offer a good product in domestic terms, but also a possible buiness opportunity for export, by avoiding a me too non premium product competition with other producers.

Thank you for this interesting story I would have otherwise never heard about. Stories about agricultural issues often are only presented to domestic audiences, but many find them interesting throughout the world.