The Ukrainian collection of legume crop seeds faces the threat of destruction

A crisis situation has arisen at the Institute of Legumes of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine.

According to an appeal by the institute's employees to the public, this situation has developed due to several factors.

Significantly, the institute has lost much of its scientific and personnel potential. Over the past year, seven scientists have resigned, including two candidates and one doctor of sciences, as well as several leading specialists who ensured the institution's operation.

"The main reason for these resignations, in our view, were artificially created conditions due to significant debt and delays in salary payments. As of today, some institute employees have not been paid salaries for 12 months, with the total debt exceeding 4 million UAH," the institute explained, noting that salaries have not been paid at all since April.

At the same time, the institute's creditor debt to legal entities and government bodies for tax payments is increasing.

"The resource support and material-technical base of the institute are in a critically unsatisfactory condition, negatively impacting both the quality of scientific research and economic activities," the institute's collective asserts.

Scientists also clarified that employees in the accounting and personnel departments have resigned, leading to a concentration of powers in a few hands, creating corruption risks and favoring the lobbying of interests of certain commercial structures.

Furthermore, the institute lacks a production program for the current year, and the sowing for 2024 has practically failed — out of 1026 hectares of arable land, only about 100 hectares have been sown (without fertilization).

"Various business structures are exerting immense pressure on the institute, demanding under various pretexts the transfer of both seed collections of legume crops and varieties that are objects of the institute's intellectual property rights," the institute stated.

They also noted that their previous appeals to the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences and other state structures have been ignored.

"We can no longer remain silent when the unique heritage of global significance is under threat, when private interests prevail over public ones. The collective openly requests the initiation of an audit to establish a true picture of the financial and economic activities of the institution," concluded the institute.