NCFU scientists told how the bioeconomy changes everything

Within the framework of the joint project of STRK Stavropolye and MK-Caucasus – Caucasus Press Center, a press conference dedicated to science was held at the North Caucasus Federal University. The main theme was the development of biotechnology and bioeconomy as one of the key areas for achieving the national goal "Technological leadership".

The conversation was attended by Director of the Department of Science of NCFU, Doctor of Technical Sciences Lyudmila Aliyeva, Chief Researcher of the Laboratory of Food and Industrial Biotechnology, Doctor of Technical Sciences Alexey Lodygin and Leading Researcher of the Laboratory of Experimental Immunomorphology and Immunobiotechnology, Candidate of Biological Sciences Marina Sizonenko.

The reason for the meeting was the Strategy for the Development of Bioeconomy until 2036, approved in October 2026. President Vladimir Putin instructed in February to accelerate the development of long-term planning in this area. The official goal is to increase the production of biotechnological products by 96% by 2030, to bring the share of domestic products in consumption to 55%, and the level of technological independence to 40%.

Lyudmila Aliyeva explained the essence of bioeconomy on a simple example. A glass of milk is not just a healthy drink. This is the result of complex biotechnological synthesis. From it you can get taurine - the basis of the drug for glaucoma, Elcornitin, which is used by athletes, and lactoferrin - a powerful immunomodulator present in women's milk. Bioeconomics suggests looking at plant and animal objects not only as food, but also as sources of biologically active substances.

Alexey Lodygin spoke about the project supported by the Russian Science Foundation. This is a joint work of nanotechnologists and biotechnologists to create plant-based beverages – alternatives to milk. Nanotechnology is responsible for bioavailable forms of selenium, zinc, cobalt and iron, which are often lacking in everyday nutrition. Biotechnologists are engaged in microencapsulation of lactobacilli and probiotic microorganisms. At the exit, a line of fermented drinks based on soy, rice and other plant raw materials enriched with trace elements and probiotics should appear. This is not the first major international project of the faculty: from 2022 to 2024, a megagrant under Resolution 220 was implemented here with the participation of Professor Natasha Poklar-Rudrich of the University of Ljubljana and Professor Vladimir Kurchenko of the Belarusian State University.

The university scientific school, founded by academician Andrei Khramtsov, for decades professes the principle of waste-free production. From a glass of milk you can get cheese, then whey proteins - the basis of sports nutrition, lactose, from it - lactulose.

A separate direction is lactic acid microorganisms. In home ayran, scientists found more than 500 biologically active substances of different classes, which provide the effect of healthy longevity. And the product on its basis contains more than one and a half thousand biologically active peptides and has great prospects in the food and pharmaceutical industry.

Marina Sizonenko presented a wound healing gel developed as part of the Priority 2030 program. Its active origin is peptide complexes isolated from raw materials of animal and microbial origin. They have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant effects, stimulate the growth of new vessels. Scientists are studying the effect of the gel on a biological model of type II diabetes, in which the regeneration processes are disrupted. There is preliminary evidence that peptides reduce sugar levels at the tissue level. There are preclinical and clinical trials ahead of market entry.

In October, the forum “Bioprom” was held in Kuban, where the university presented pastille and marmalade with chondroitin, yeastless bread with lactic acid microorganisms. Scientists also showed the technology of obtaining pharmacopoeial lactose - the first in domestic production, produced at the Stavropol plant.

The conversation also touched upon international cooperation. In an interview with the TV channel, Iranian Professor Sayed Mahdi Jafari, who heads the international laboratory of NCFU, spoke about a joint project to create vegetable milk enriched with particles of metals and minerals. According to him, Russia has resources, personnel and technologies, and the team of the megaproject has excellent experience in nanotechnology. “You have a well-developed dairy industry, there is a great potential for export,” he said. There are prospects to become one of the leading countries in the field of industrial production of plant drinks.

The meeting ended with a conversation about the festival “Science 0+”, which this year is held in 80 regions of Russia and five foreign countries. NCFU has prepared 104 events – from the master class “Painting under a microscope” to quests for deciphering ciphers. Students can try themselves in the role of a geologist, a diagnostician or the creator of a probiotic lollipop. As Lyudmila Aliyeva emphasized, science is subject to all ages, and science in our country is the future.

Earlier it was reported that an international youth school on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity was launched in NCFU.