Buryatia has started industrial cultivation of medicinal plants, the region’s head Alexei Tsydenov said at the “Drug Security” forum during a session on “Investing in Drug Availability: From Molecule to Patient”. Plantings of astragalus, milk thistle, chamomile, liquorice and other sought‑after crops began in 2026, Tsydenov said.
Tsydenov addressed representatives of major pharmaceutical companies, noting that “Buryatia is not only beautiful but also rich in medicinal plants.” By way of comparison, he cited China, where 3 million hectares are dedicated to such plants and harvests amount to hundreds of thousands of tonnes. Buryatia also has an accredited laboratory – one of only three at this level in Russia. “We are ready to supply raw materials to pharmaceutical companies. Look at Buryatia as a supplier,” Tsydenov said.
In 2025, laboratories for the processing and research of medicinal herbs opened at Buryatia’s agricultural academy. According to Deputy Prime Minister and regional Health Minister Yevgenia Ludupova, they allow the analysis of raw materials according to pharmacopoeial standards and the production of experimental batches of herbal medicines. The project is part of the region’s biopharmaceutical cluster.
Tsydenov also spoke about experiments with drone delivery of medicines. He said this is not systematic but rather one‑off dispatches over long distances, as it is not simply a matter of launching a drone. The difficulty lies in ensuring communication, navigation control and coordination between sender and receiver.
“The economic feasibility of using drones is mainly evident over long distances and in hard‑to‑reach places where year‑round communication and infrastructure are absent or limited,” Tsydenov believes
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