Published on: 2026-08-18
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
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In Russia, the quality of sunflower products can be improved thanks to a new DNA technology. It was developed by a resident of the capital, Alina Chernova, the winner of the competition “Leaders of the Agro-Industrial Complex” Presidential platform “Russia is a land of opportunity”, CEO of Oil Gene LLC.
Together with the team, she created a genetic panel that analyzes 200 markers in the sunflower genome and allows for highly accurate assessment of the purity of seed batches even before sowing. This makes the quality control of hybrid seeds more precise and reduces the risk that hidden defects will manifest after sowing and affect the future harvest. The analysis results reveal how uniform the batch is, whether it corresponds to the desired hybrid or line, whether there is genetic admixture present, and whether the batch or individual plant carries the necessary valuable traits, allowing for a higher quality product to be introduced to the agricultural market.
“A good hybrid must be uniform. A field of hybrid sunflowers looks as if the plants are exactly the same. If there is a genetic admixture in the batch, plants of different heights, with different heads and other characteristics appear. This means that the field will be more difficult to harvest, some plants may tolerate treatment worse or lose necessary traits. For the seed producer, this is a matter of quality and trust in the seed company, and for the farmer — a risk of losing part of the harvest or getting products below the expected level. The DNA panel allows improving seed quality control,” said Alina Chernova.
Before the panel was developed, the team had been testing sunflower for several years using genetic markers. Such tests remain in demand because they help quickly analyze specific characteristics of crops, but this is not always enough to assess the quality of a batch.
Alina Chernova shared that their company often received requests to verify the genetic purity of a particular hybrid or line. Using individual markers provides only a partial picture, whereas to obtain a reliable result it is important to look at a larger number of parameters in the genome — not only significant traits but also population markers that allow determining the kinship of plants. A genetic panel handles this task well, so the team set out to develop one.
For Russian crop production, this service opens up a new direction. Similar approaches are already used in medicine, but they were not previously available in domestic breeding. Alina Chernova emphasized that she and her team wanted genetic technologies to become an integral part of seed production. Many have learned to produce them, and the focus is shifting to the fight for quality. Winning it without genetic technologies is impossible. The company sells a platform where seed producers and breeders can track the genetic characteristics of their plants, receive the necessary analytics in a convenient format, and manage the process.
The panel has already been tested by agricultural companies. It showed accurate results and is currently undergoing final refinement. The team plans to improve the analysis accuracy and add more markers. The updated version of the panel is expected to be launched on the market in the fall. The company plans to develop this approach not only for sunflower but also for other crops. In September, a similar panel for corn is being prepared for launch, and solutions for rapeseed and sugar beet are also in development. Importantly, the team offers not only laboratory DNA analysis but a comprehensive product that allows tracking the sample’s journey from sowing in the field to the final result: the data is delivered directly to the client’s personal account along with recommendations and analytics that help better understand the cause of possible impurities and the algorithm for further actions.
Alina Chernova entered the biotechnology field from fundamental science. Her dissertation was devoted to sunflower genetics, and the future company grew out of the laboratory of the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology. In 2020, together with colleagues, she decided to find practical applications for the team’s scientific developments to address agricultural challenges, and in 2021, the company LLC “Oil Gene” was founded. Today, the enterprise serves more than 40 clients from the Krasnodar and Altai Krais, Rostov, Voronezh, Kaluga, and Lipetsk regions. More than 100,000 individual plant genotypes were analyzed during the 2026 season.
Initially, the team consisted of three people. The founders themselves searched for clients, attracted funding, and worked on development. Active growth began in 2023. The company is now based in Moscow, is a resident of the Skolkovo Foundation, and develops genetic services for breeding and seed production. Alina Chernova’s team assists a number of agricultural producers in marker and genomic selection, works with seed producers on seed testing and genetic analysis.
Winning the “Leaders of the Agro-Industrial Complex” competition helped Alina Chernova to look at the company’s development more broadly and to move faster toward scaling. Thanks to the mentoring program, she was able to establish contacts with leading companies in the industry, with whom joint projects are now being discussed.
The “Leaders of the Agro-Industrial Complex” competition is aimed at finding, developing, and supporting promising leaders in this field. Participants tackle complex management tasks, work on industry cases, and meet with mentors, experts, and representatives of the agro-industrial complex.
The winners of the first season of the competition “Leaders of the Agro-Industrial Complex”, co-organized by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, were 54 people. They are undergoing training for senior management in the agro-industrial complex through an educational program at the management workshop “Senezh” of the Presidential platform “Russia — Land of Opportunities.” All finalists participate in a mentorship program with leading managers in the agro-industrial complex.
The competition is implemented within the framework of the federal project “Russia — the land of opportunities” and the national project “Youth and children” Learn more about Russia’s national projects and the capital’s contribution at special page.
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