The natural reserves of the Russian North are just beginning to open their pockets for domestic business. The large space for creating new solutions gives rise to ambitious projects, and Karelia has become one of the pioneers in a number of sectors. For example, recently specialists of the Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences reported on the results of work on a large-scale project aimed at increasing the efficiency of the introduction of medicinal plants of the North into agricultural turnover.

Today the main suppliers of calendula, mint, melissa, thyme, rhodiola rosea and other medicinal plants are Stavropol and Altai Territory. Karelia also has the potential to grow plants, but this requires the introduction of new technologies. One of them was compacted sowing of two or more crops in the open field. According to an article published in the journal Web of Conferences, calendula does not get along with other plants in the same plot, while dill increases yields of mint and molasses. In total, the staff of the research institute planted a number of experimental crops of plants from 27 pharmacological groups on the territory of the Agrobiological Station of the Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 'If plant species for compacted seeding are well selected by biological and economic traits, their joint cultivation provides a more complete utilisation of light, moisture, nutrition and other environmental conditions,' said Maria Yurkevich, Head of the Laboratory for Plant Biotechnology of the Department of Multidisciplinary Scientific Research of the Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences.



In addition to medicines, scientists have laid down a number of studies on growing perennial onions for the pharmaceutical industry and growing strawberries. In the long term, the medicinal fields should create a new industry in the region, which will allow the efficient use of Karelia's natural resources. The absence of competitors also inspires optimism—in the region, the collection of wild medicinal plants is carried out by rare enthusiastic hikers who combine labour with active recreation.

Berries and mushrooms are another matter. In the Russian North, collecting gifts of nature is a fast-growing seasonal business that allows you to earn more than half a million roubles per season. A number of food companies are opening collection points for 'freelancers' who receive payment for kilograms turned in. People come from all over the country and literally flood the local forests and swamps, picking blueberries, cranberries, mushrooms, nuts and other wild herbs. At the same time, you have to climb into inaccessible places, track down promising fields and actively compete with your fellow labourers. They are watered by rain, bitten by mosquitoes and other insects, all-terrain vehicles sink in swamps, and water pours into their boots. As a result, berry picking turns Karelia into an analog of the Klondike, gripped by a fever of supply and demand.



However, not everyone likes chaos, so there is a place for modern solutions. For example, the Berries of Karelia company implemented an application that allowed structuring the production process. Now the entire document flow accompanying the acceptance of raw materials and payment for the received product has gone digital—the company immediately sees what and in what volume the receiver has extracted, and the 'berry hunter' receives instant money. During the development process, pickers were offered an interactive map with more than 2,000 locations of potential berry abundance. Receptionists can coordinate them by directing them to promising and underutilised locations. At the same time, the performers communicate with the company directly, avoiding intermediaries. So far, about 30,000 people have registered on the app, and cost of production reductions have been between 10 and 15%, depending on the year.

As for the regulatory arm of the state, today they mainly monitor compliance with the deadlines for harvesting wild crops. Attempts to get berries earlier in the season usually result in a significant reduction in yield and inappropriate use of resources—unripe berries will simply not be accepted. Unauthorised collectors are entitled to a fine of RUB 500 to RUB 1,000, as well as to take away baskets and other collection tools. 

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