Self-taught genius: 170th anniversary of Ivan Michurin
27 October marks the 170th anniversary of the birth of Ivan Michurin — an outstanding scientist and self-taught plant breeder who created hundreds of new varieties of fruit, berry and agricultural crops. His life principle, "We cannot wait for favours from nature; to take them from her is our task," became a symbol of an active, creative attitude towards one’s native land — the very spirit embodied today by the National Centre RUSSIA.
A Russian and Soviet plant breeder of international renown, Doctor of Biology, Honoured Worker of Science and Technology of the RSFSR and Honorary Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, Ivan Michurin was born in the village of Dolgoye in the Ryazan region into a minor noble family. His passion for horticulture was in his blood: his great-grandfather, grandfather and father all collected libraries on agriculture and fruit-plant collections. After being expelled from the Ryazan Gymnasium "for disrespect towards authority" in 1872, Michurin moved to Kozlov (now Michurinsk), where he worked as a clerk, cashier, and railway technician.
His famous phrase, "We cannot wait for favours from nature; to take them from her is our task," may sound defiant, but for Michurin it was a way of life. Although he had no formal higher education, he was self-taught and went on to establish Russia’s first breeding nursery. He devoted all his free time and meagre income to experiments in his own garden. For many years his work went unrecognised, and only at the age of 51 (in 1906) did he publish his first scientific papers, which brought him worldwide fame.
Michurin did not merely create new varieties — he created the future, where Russian orchards would blossom and bear fruit even in regions once thought inhospitable. The result of his solitary scientific feat was more than 300 varieties of fruit and other crops, including the famous apples "Six-Hundred-Gram Antonovka" and "Pepin Shafran", the pear "Michurin’s Winter Beurré", the sloe "Dessert", and even an early-ripening fragrant tobacco. When fame came to him, the US Department of Agriculture offered to move him to America or buy his plant collection, but Michurin flatly refused — he wanted to serve his homeland alone.
The scientist’s life path is a vivid example of how one person’s perseverance can benefit an entire nation and the world. The "Journey Across Russia" exposition is also filled with love for the homeland. At the National Centre RUSSIA, the exposition of the North Caucasus Federal District features a model apple tree as a symbol of the Stavropol region. The aroma of its fruit was appreciated by the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, during his visit to the Centre on 26 March this year.
Admission to the "Journey Across Russia" exposition is free as part of guided tours, which can be booked in advance on the website russia.ru in the "Events" section.
