Russian Academician on Food Security, Climate-Resilient Agriculture
Oksana Kuznetsova is the Director of the V. M. Gorbatov Federal Research Center for Food Systems of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS). She holds a Doctor of Technical Sciences degree and specializes in food safety and quality management systems.
She is also a national-level expert in technical regulation and an international expert with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), where she serves on the committee for food standards.
Kuznetsova graduated from the Moscow State University of Applied Biotechnology in 2004 with a degree in engineering, specializing in standardization and certification, and obtained her doctorate in 2017. Before assuming her current role, she served as acting director of the center starting in 2017.
From The Reporter Magazine
Her scientific research focuses on developing methodologies to analyze and predict microbiological and chemical risks in food processing facilities, identifying hazardous chemical compounds, tracing their points of entry into the food chain, and creating risk-ranking frameworks adapted to specific technological processes.
Kuznetsova identifies food safety, microbiological risks, antimicrobial resistance, food preservation, climate adaptation, crop science, farming technologies, biodiversity, dehydration, and waste reduction as prime areas for international scientific cooperation.
In an interview with The Reporter’s Abraham Tekle, Kuznetsova discusses food safety and microbiological risks, antibiotic resistance, shelf-stable and dehydration technologies, climate-resilient crops, rapid technology transfer from laboratories to farms, and strategies to strengthen Ethiopia’s domestic food self-sufficiency. Excerpts:
From The Reporter Magazine
Russia and Ethiopia share long-standing bilateral relations, with food security taking on an increasingly vital role. From a scientific perspective, what can Russia’s food-systems research institutions offer Ethiopia beyond standard commodity supplies?
First and foremost, I believe it comes down to food security and food safety, because we face significant microbiological challenges globally. Microorganisms are mutating rapidly and becoming increasingly resistant to conventional hygienic operations and disinfectants. I see tremendous scope for scientific cooperation to counter these adaptations and establish updated hygienic protocols that safeguard food safety, particularly microbiological safety.
The second critical priority is antibiotic resistance. This is a hidden pandemic; we see far too many cases where lives are lost simply because standard antibiotics fail to work. Collaborative scientific research dedicated to preventing antibiotic resistance—and developing new antibiotics or viable alternatives—is essential to saving lives.
Are there specific areas where you see potential for joint research, technology transfer, or capacity building to boost overall agricultural productivity?
In the technological domain, one particularly promising focus is shelf-stable products that do not require continuous refrigeration or cooling. We have substantial technical expertise in this area. During the Soviet era, we worked extensively with African nations to prevent food spoilage and contamination. In fact, Russian canned goods—such as canned meats and green peas—have their origins in technologies co-developed with African partners during that period.
Today, using modern technological platforms, we can expand on this work. Key focus areas include dehydrated products, advanced highly processed canned goods, and other innovative preservation methods. This is especially vital because maintaining an uninterrupted cold chain remains a formidable challenge—not only across Africa, but also within Russia. A cold chain must be preserved seamlessly at every stage, from production to point of consumption. Developing high-quality products that remain safe and stable without constant cooling provides a significant operational advantage.
Ethiopia faces compounding pressures on its food system—droughts, floods, land degradation, and climate shocks alongside conflict, displacement, and economic strains. Based on your research into resilient food systems, what core weaknesses must Ethiopia address to withstand these intersecting shocks?
Ethiopia needs to implement technologies that enhance resilience to climate change, including adopting new crop varieties, updated farming practices, and broader biodiversity. We must develop methods that render raw agricultural materials more resilient to climate variability. Russia possesses extensive resources in this area—spanning crop genetics, livestock breeding, and production technologies. I believe we can collaborate productively on a new phase of research tailored to these needs.
With growing concern over El Niño and its regional impact on East African agriculture, what immediate scientific measures should governments implement to protect crops, livestock, water supplies, and food security before conditions worsen? What Russian scientific expertise could realistically support this preparedness?
The principal priority for governments must be making the transfer of scientific knowledge faster and more transparent. When a research team develops solutions or empirical data that could mitigate a crisis, government mechanisms should facilitate the rapid dissemination of that knowledge—not just within academic circles, but directly to farmers and technical regulators. The transfer pipeline must be swift, moving seamlessly from the laboratory to the field, farm, and food processing line as quickly as possible.
Building on that point about rapid technology transfer, what concrete scientific and technological expertise from Russia could realistically be shared with Ethiopia to tackle these unprecedented climate pressures?
It is crucial for Ethiopia to adopt technologies that strengthen crop resilience, improve food dehydration systems, and minimize post-harvest production waste. I view these three domains as the primary focus areas for immediate impact in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia relies heavily on Russian wheat supplies, while global grain markets continue to navigate the systemic fallout of the Russia–Ukraine conflict. From a food systems perspective, how has this situation impacted global supply resilience, and what are the long-term implications for Ethiopia?
Naturally, these matters were discussed in depth, though not all operational details can be made public at present, given that certain aspects remain strictly confidential due to the ongoing situation. Nevertheless, we addressed a range of core issues involving food systems, scientific cooperation, and prospective avenues for partnership. We are actively working on these fronts, and I am confident that we will achieve positive outcomes moving forward.
Looking at these persistent climate and structural challenges, what strategic lessons can Ethiopia draw upon to build long-term resilience?
Ethiopia should focus on strengthening and diversifying its domestic food manufacturing base using higher technological standards. The country needs to work toward producing a far broader array of essential foods within its own borders to feed its population independently. Elevating local processing and domestic production capacity is fundamental to building a truly resilient food system.
How do you see Russia–Ethiopia relations evolving over the next five to ten years in agriculture, developmental cooperation, and scientific exchange?
I see our institutional exchanges accelerating, alongside expanding cooperation across Africa and specifically with Ethiopia. We maintain active partnerships with institutions like the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (Lumumba University), where many students from Africa gain specialized scientific knowledge before returning home to apply it in their local contexts.
I am optimistic that scientific exchanges between Russian and Ethiopian research groups will grow much more intensive. We are always eager to welcome our Ethiopian scientific colleagues to our institute and look forward to building long-term, practical cooperation.
