New Russian Durum Varieties – Taganrog and Bourbon

Agroliga’s ambition is to make its two new durum varieties – Taganrog and Bourbon – the most popular pasta wheat varieties grown both in Russia and Kazakhstan.

It is feasible during this time to will boost Russian farm incomes by an estimated $500 million, over and above what farmers would have earned growing any other durum variety that will be commercially available at the time.

Reducing production risk for farmers and producers is a guiding principle for Agroliga’s breeding programs. Not long after the Agroliga research station hired its first wheat breeders and agronomists in 2003, it started churning out improved durum varieties that produced higher yields, better quality and bigger farm profits.

Taganrog and Bourbon are two durum wheat varieties that represent good examples of how Agroliga work has benefited the industry. Of all the durum wheat varieties that have been developed globally over the recent decade, Taganrog and Bourbon are arguably the most valuable.

Our ambition is to make Taganrog and Bourbon the most widely grown wheat varieties across Southern Russia and Kazakhstan. According to wheat industry estimates, the total amount of durum grown in those two countries will skyrocket from the current 500 thousand tons to 5 million tons within a decade.

In less than a decade Bourbon and Taganrog will become the most popular pasta wheat varieties grown both in Russia and Kazakhstan. During that time, they will boost Russian farm incomes by an estimated $500 million, over and above what farmers would have earned growing any other durum variety that will be commercially available at the time.
According to Dr. Svetrala Dolaberidze, CEO of Agroliga Plant Selection Center, who co-developed the variety along with her colleagues, Taganrog’s and Bourbon’s promise of improved fusarium resistance, higher yields, better agronomics and consistently high protein levels will inevitable make them favorite among farmers, processors and pasta makers alike.

“In the durum wheat class, Taganrog and Bourbon really resulted in a paradigm shift,” says Dr. Dolaberidze. “As a team we were able to incorporate new genetic technologies into our breeding program and develop a new durum variety that represents a whole new plant, with better nitrogen uptake, better water use efficiency, major improvements in standability and improvements in disease resistance.”

Other new varieties to come out of Agroliga Plant Selection Center will be equally impressive.

Learn more about how Bourbon and Taganrog can help your business >>