Innovations in the Agri‑Food Sector: “Smart” Farms and “Right” Milk

Radzima Newspaper

September 9, 2026 9:44

In Belarus, 9.2 million tonnes of milk were produced in 2025 — more than a tonne per resident of the republic. By this metric, our country ranks among the world’s top five. In terms of milk, we have the highest level of self‑sufficiency, standing at 283 %. The average consumption is 238 litres per person per year, roughly a quarter of the total yield; the remaining milk products are exported to more than 70 countries worldwide. Compared with 2024, milk production increased by 14 %. Such a significant gain was made possible by innovations in genetics and breeding, feed production, and animal husbandry.

National Heritage of Belarus

The foundation of milk abundance was the Belarusian black‑spotted cattle breed, approved and adopted in 2001. However, a modern qualitative breakthrough became possible after the creation of the Belarusian Holstein breed in 2020. Holsteins now account for more than 80 % of all milk produced. Both breeds of Belarusian breeders are recognized as national heritage of the Republic of Belarus. By 2030, an update is expected: the Belarusian Red breed, capable of complementing or even replacing the black‑spotted and Holsteins.

High yields are good, but product quality is equally important: fat content, digestibility of milk protein, somatic cell count, and other properties. In these respects, the Red breed has a clear advantage. The fat content of milk from these

The Red cattle breed appeared on Belarusian pastures in the late 19th century and was widely spread. Today a small herd remains, and to accelerate breeding, animals of the Danish Red breed have been purchased, whose distant descendants are our brown cows. Work is also underway to cross Holstein and Red breeds. If it is possible to combine the high milk yield of one with the outstanding milk quality of the other, it will be a true revolution in the dairy industry.

The essence lies in the management

Currently there are 2,900 dairy farms operating in the republic, of which 1,700 are modern dairy commodity complexes. In the coming years, about 360 more dairy complexes are planned to be built or reconstructed.

This will allow the entire milking herd to be moved to advanced housing conditions by 2030, thereby fulfilling the directive of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Modern dairy commodity complexes enable the use of key innovations in livestock development. The use of digital technologies allows control over all stages of production, from the animal's birth to the processing of the products obtained from it. The Internet of Things (devices that collect necessary data and exchange it among themselves) tracks the health status and behavior of animals in real time, analyzes milk quality indicators, and performs other necessary diagnostics. Through augmented reality devices (AR glasses), a specialist can obtain all the required information at any moment directly on the farm next to the animal. AI-based systems can process large volumes of data on nutrition and health, formulate a feeding regime taking into account individual characteristics, make necessary forecasts, and generate reports.

Large dairy commodity complexes now use robotic systems for milking, feeding, monitoring animal health, and cleaning facilities. In cutting‑edge agricultural enterprises, it is becoming economically justified to create fully robotic dairy farms. The twelfth in the world and the first in the CIS, a robotic dairy commodity complex has been operating since 2021 at the “Minkovichi” branch of JSC “Belovezhsky” in the Kamenetsky district.

All work is carried out by a machine equipped with artificial intelligence. It turns on automatically according to a schedule, performs its task, and then goes to recharge. Several specialists monitor and control it remotely. The staff includes one milker, whose duty is to oversee the operation of four milking robots that serve all the cows on the farm. The system is designed for a herd of 760 milking cows.

And what's on the menu?

The animal's health, and therefore the quantity and quality of milk produced, depends on the feeding system and the feed itself. Modern automated feeding systems (equipment and software complexes) provide precise dosing, mixing, and delivery of feed in the required amounts at the right times.

Feeds are being developed that help balance the diet, improve nutrient digestibility, strengthen immunity, and increase productivity. Specialists at the Belarus National Biotechnology Corporation have created a concentrate for cattle, enriched with essential amino acids. They also produce premixes—complex feed additives containing the necessary vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that are not always present in sufficient quantities in ordinary feeds.

The use of artificial intelligence allows the feeding system to be adjusted according to changing living conditions. Monitoring nutrition on a “smart” farm enables assessment of animal behavior and condition, and early detection of diseases. Veterinary practice also employs advances in physical‑chemical biology, biotechnology, and molecular immunology to develop modern methods of prevention and treatment for dairy cattle.

Belarus is now moving to a new level of dairy industry development: from preserving and expanding production to strengthening its position among the world’s largest producers. By 2030, an annual yield of 10.5 million tonnes of milk is expected, but the main focus is not on quantity but on quality and technological independence of production. The use of innovative technologies will allow our products to maintain and enhance their attractiveness in the global market. This will contribute to sustainable growth and the stability of the entire economy.

A. Yemelyanov

Tags: Agri‑food Belarus Innovations