MAKHACHKALA, July 20 – RIA "Dagestan". Timur Baibulatov, a postgraduate student at Dagestan State Agrarian University, has won the national "Student Startup" competition in the Biotechnologies category for his innovative potato harvesting technology.
His project, "Creation and Implementation of an Improved Design of a Bar Plowshare Ensuring Resource Conservation and Increased Productivity" aims to boost machine efficiency, cut fuel consumption and reduce tuber damage.
Baibulatov estimates the technology could yield economic benefits of RUB 18,000–20,000 per hectare from reduced spoilage and up to RUB 35,000 from lower losses. Established by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in 2022 and organized by the Foundation for Assistance to Innovations, the 2026 contest spanned seven priority areas; Baibulatov is among 2,200 winners from over 300 universities who will each receive RUB 1 million to implement their projects in line with national technological development goals.