The Higher Engineering School of Agrobiotechnologies (HESAB) at Tomsk State University (TSU) has opened Russia's first master's program in digital agronomy. The program aims to train specialists capable of integrating traditional agronomic knowledge with advanced digital technologies — from managing drones for field monitoring to automating greenhouse farms. This year, 10 students will be able to enroll in the program.
Agriculture is becoming a high-tech industry, employing artificial intelligence, geoanalytics, robotics, and IoT sensors. In 2024, the government allocated 3 billion rubles for the digital transformation of the agro-industrial complex, but the shortage of personnel remains a key problem.
The master's program includes:
- Digital technologies in the agro-industrial complex (data analysis, drones, smart greenhouses);
- Modern crop production (agrobiotechnologies, organic farming);
- Management of scientific projects;
- Practice using VR/AR and laboratory equipment.
The development of precision farming opens up new opportunities for the agro-industrial complex. It increases production efficiency, improves product quality, and increases the profitability of agriculture. Training personnel who know how to work with modern information systems is a requirement of the times. We see how artificial intelligence, big data analysis, and digitalization in general are "bursting" into our daily lives. Therefore, we need to train the personnel of the future now.
The program partner is the Siberian Federal Scientific Center of Agrobiotechnologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Graduates will be able to work in agricultural holdings, scientific centers, and government structures.