It is the same in agriculture. A good variety, quality seed, strong genetics – this is the "hardware", the smart device. But what unlocks its full potential is proper agronomy, storage, sowing, irrigation, nutrition, light, temperature, and care. In other words, these are the "software" of the seed and the plant.
At first glance, this seems very simple. But in reality, global agriculture is rediscovering this very truth today. Because new varieties, new machinery, or more fertilizers alone cannot ensure future food security. The climate is changing, water scarcity is intensifying, soil salinization is increasing, and heat waves, new diseases, and pests pose new questions for farmers every year. In such times, knowing how to correctly "activate" the genetic potential of a seed is becoming a distinct science, a distinct skill.
The name of this science is epigenetics.
Many people think epigenetics means complex laboratories, genes, DNA, molecules, equipment and formulas. But in fact, it can be explained in a farmer's simple language: DNA is the seed's alphabet. Epigenetics is the order that determines which word, when, where, and how is read from this alphabet.
That is, the genes in the seed do not change. But the way those genes work can change. One gene "wakes up" on time, another stays "silent" temporarily, and a third starts working faster under stress. Temperature, light, water, salt, soil, nutrients, microorganisms, storage conditions, and care all influence this.
In a computer, software is written in numbers. Changing it requires a specialist. In a seed, however, many of the “programs” that regulate gene activity are written by nature as if in pencil. If the farmer provides the right conditions, they can strengthen, direct, and sometimes even partly “rewrite” that pencil-written program. The seed feels cold, feels light, feels water, feels the soil. The plant does not move, does not walk, does not speak, but it “reads” the environment. As a result, it changes the order of its defense, growth, flowering, fruiting, or ripening.
This is epigenetic agronomy: the intelligent use of plant memory and environmental signals.
The Seed Also Prepares
We often think of a seed as just living material: throw it into the ground, give it water, and it will germinate. But a seed is a living system. It has a waking time, a preparation period and an internal rhythm. A seed's awakening is like a human waking up in the morning. Some are alert immediately, some wake up later, and some cannot start work at all because they are not ready.
Imagine a field. On one hectare, thousands or millions of seeds are sown. If they do not germinate at the same time, development across the field will be uneven. One plant emerges early, another after three days, a third after a week. Then flowering, heading, and ripening will also vary. As a result, the farmer sees green, ripe, and late plants all at once in the same field. This affects yield, water use, disease resistance, and harvest quality. That is why uniform and consistent germination is not a simple matter. It is the initial key to the harvest. In recent years, a very interesting and practically proven experience has developed in Uzbekistan. It was recommended to store grain seeds at +4°C for 2 months before sowing. At first, many did not believe it. "What good is putting seeds in a refrigerator?" some said. But practice later showed this to be a very important method. Why?
This is not just about cooling. It is about regulating the seed's internal awakening process. Freshly harvested grain may not be fully "ready". It has a natural period of dormancy. If such seeds are sown immediately, some will not germinate well or will germinate late. In some cases, up to 30% of seeds may not germinate as expected. This means fewer plants in the field and, consequently, lower yields. Storing seeds at +4°C for two months uniformly awakens them. As a result, the seeds germinate at the same time, seedlings develop evenly, and flowering and ripening are also synchronized. The number of plants per field increases. The yield forms uniformly. The farmer's labor, water, fertilizer, machinery, and time work more efficiently. Here, the variety has not changed. The DNA has not changed. But the "software" for launching the seed has been correctly set. And that made a big difference. In some fields, an additional ton or more per hectare became possible. That is a high income for the farmer and a great contribution to the country's food security.
A simple question: we spend years, large amounts of money, and science to create new varieties. But for properly "awakening" a good variety, simple cold storage technology is sometimes enough. So, a big result in agriculture does not always come from expensive technology. Sometimes a big result comes from a simple science that is correctly understood.
Light Also Gives a Signal to the Plant
The plant has no eyes, but it sees light. It has no ears, but it receives environmental signals as if hearing them. It has no legs, but it moves toward light, water, and nutrients. This is a wonderful miracle of nature. Potato seed tubers also have this condition. A potato tuber needs to "wake up" to some extent before going into the ground. Its eye, the sprout, must become active at the right time. If the tuber is sluggish, sprouting is delayed, plants in the field develop unevenly, and the yield is low.
Today in Uzbekistan, practical experiments are being conducted on treating potato seed tubers with red light before planting. The essence of the method is that red light affects the plant’s light-perceiving systems. It can influence sprout awakening, growth rhythm, and subsequent development. As a result, the seed tuber “wakes up,” the seedlings in the field look better, and development accelerates. Note: here again, the DNA does not change. The variety does not turn into another variety. But the plant’s “pencil-written” operating program is influenced by light. Therefore, this, too, can be called agronomy close to epigenetic thinking. In practice, such an approach can make a big difference in potato yield. If earlier some fields produced 20–25 tons per hectare, then with properly prepared seed tubers, proper agronomy, proper irrigation, and care, results of 50 tons and above can be observed. This is not the result of a single method, but of the proper functioning of the entire “software.”
Here, another important conclusion emerges. We often associate yield only with land, water, and fertilizers. Of course, these are important. But light also signals to the plant. Temperature also gives a signal. Storage conditions also give a signal. So, modern farming is the art of "talking" with the plant. Whoever understands the plant's language better gets a higher yield and higher-quality produce from the field.
The Secret of Colored Film on a Cotton Field
Uzbekistan's cotton industry has undergone major changes in recent years. Cotton areas are shrinking, but yields and efficiency are increasing. Drip irrigation, laser leveling, new varieties, seed production systems, clusters, processing – all of this is taking cotton farming to a new level.
Now, another interesting approach is being added to this direction: growing cotton under colored film.
Growing under film is not new to us. It retains soil temperature, holds moisture, saves water, and promotes earlier seedling development. However, here another simple, at first glance strange, question arises: does the color of the film matter? “Well, you told us to use film — we are using it. Now what is this about colored film?” some may say. This is natural, because the farmer wants to see practical benefit from every new idea.
The answer is simple: yes, the color of the film can matter, because color is the quality of light. And the quality of light is a signal to the plant. Red, blue, green, white, or transparent film slightly changes the light environment around the soil and the plant. And the plant senses this change. It has light-perceiving systems such as phytochrome and cryptochrome. Through these, the plant makes internal decisions: “what environment am I in?”, “is there shade?”, “do I need to grow faster?”, “when should I start flowering?”, “how do I accelerate ripening?” One of these processes is called the “shade avoidance response.” Simply put, if the plant feels it is in shade, it tries to grow faster. The stem, leaf, flowering, and subsequent development may change. In some cases, this can affect earlier ripening, fiber quality, fiber length, or boll formation. This year in Uzbekistan, testing of colored films — including blue, red, and green — on large areas, together with drip irrigation, has begun. The most interesting thing is that this is not a big additional expense for the farmer. He is already using film. Only the color of the film changes. But this small change can alter the “light signal” the plant receives.
This is what can truly be called agricultural software. The variety is the same. The land is the same. The irrigation system is the same. But the plant’s perception of the environment changes. Its development program may be launched differently. This opens new opportunities for early ripening, water saving, yield, and quality in cotton farming. Of course, this direction needs to be studied more deeply from a scientific perspective. Which color on which soil, on which variety, in which climate, at which sowing date gives the best result — precise experiments will show. But the most important thing is that we are now beginning to see the plant not just as an “object” that consumes fertilizer and water, but as a living system that reads environmental signals. This very perspective shows that a new era is beginning in our agriculture.
Genetics is Necessary, But It Alone is Not Enough
Over the last century, a large part of agricultural progress has come through genetics. New varieties, high-yielding lines, disease-resistant plants, high-quality cotton fiber, high-yielding grain, new types of fruit and vegetable crops – all these are the great achievement of breeding and genetics.
But today, the world has come to a new truth: good genetics alone does not mean a good harvest. One variety can give excellent results in one field and average results in another. Why? Because the expression of genetic potential depends on the environment. Here, a bridge between genetics and agronomy is needed. That bridge is epigenetic thinking.
Genetics gives the seed potential. Epigenetic agronomy activates that potential. If genetics is the hardware, then agronomy based on epigenetic knowledge is the software. If the hardware is powerful but the software is wrong, the system works slowly. If the software is correct, even existing possibilities work much more efficiently. Therefore, this direction is very important for developing countries. Because not every country has expensive laboratories, high-tech analyses, and not every farmer has large funds. But every farmer can learn to store seeds correctly, awaken them correctly, irrigate correctly, protect the soil, and understand the importance of light and temperature. Every agronomist can conduct a small field experiment, compare treated and untreated seeds, and see the result. This is not an expensive path, but one that requires knowledge.
What Can Epigenetic Agronomy Do?
It can be divided into several simple directions in the farmer's language.
First – seed pre-treatment. This can be hydropriming, i.e., soaking seeds in water for a certain period and then drying them. This helps the seeds germinate uniformly. In some cases, very low concentrations of salts or nutrients are used to prepare the seed for future salinity or drought. Treatment with biological products enhances the activity of beneficial microorganisms around the seed.
Second – hardening the plant through mild stress. This is not about torturing the plant. It is about intelligently preparing it. For example, moderately reducing water during a non-sensitive growth period can signal to the plant to prepare for future water scarcity. This method must be applied carefully for each crop and each stage. But if done correctly, it increases water efficiency and stress tolerance.
Third – managing light and temperature. Storing grain seeds at +4°C, exposing potato tubers to red light, using colored film on cotton – all of these are management of the environmental signals given to the plant.
Fourth – preserving the soil microbiome. Soil is not just sand, clay, and minerals. It is a living world. Billions of bacteria, fungi, and beneficial organisms live in it. They talk to the root, help with nutrient exchange and strengthen the plant's immunity. Therefore, excessive soil destruction, unnecessary chemical pressure and the reduction of organic matter – all of these also destroy the plant's natural “software” environment.
Fifth – selecting seeds from the best-adapted plants. If there are plants in some part of the field that withstand heat, salinity, drought, or disease well, attention should be paid to them. This is one of the main directions of both classical selection and epigenetic thinking. Of course, hybrid crops, seed production rules, and variety purity must be considered. But if the farmer records which seeds, methods and agronomic practices gave good results in his field, he too becomes a science-based farmer.
The Farmer Must Now Be Not Just an Executor, But a Knowledge Holder
In the future of agriculture, the farmer cannot remain just someone who plows the land, sows seeds, and turns on the water. He must be a person who understands the plant, reads the soil, observes the climate, tests technology – a knowledge holder.
Before, in the agrarian sector, questions were more often: "Which variety is good?" "Which machine is powerful?" "Which fertilizer is effective?" Now the questions are expanding:
Is the seed ready for sowing?
Is its dormancy period broken?
Will it germinate uniformly?
Are there beneficial microbes in the soil?
At which stage should more water be given, and at which stage less?
What signal is the color of the film giving to the plant?
How are light, temperature, and humidity controlling the plant's internal development?
Will this method give results next year as well?
Is this product safe for human health?
Is this technology harming the soil and water?
The farmer who begins to ask these questions is the farmer of a new era.
In Animal Husbandry Too, There is "Memory"
Epigenetic thinking is not only about plants. In animal husbandry, the living organism also responds to the environment, feed, stress, and care. A cow, sheep, goat, chicken, or fish – these are not "mechanisms" that produce a product. They are living beings. Their organism perceives feed quality, water, air, temperature, movement, disease, stress, and human attitude.
Therefore, in animal husbandry, it is not enough to ask only "how much milk did it give?", "How much meat did it give?" "How many eggs did it give?" The question should be: in what conditions was it kept? What feed was given? Was there stress? Were antibiotics used rationally? Was the animal treated humanely? Is the product safe? Does it serve the health of the child, the family table and the health of society?
Here we must be careful and responsible. The statement "meat or milk has memory" should not be understood as a directly proven scientific fact, but as a living organism's response to the environment. That is, how the animal is kept, so its organism responds. This response can be reflected in product quality, safety, and nutritional value.
So, epigenetic thinking offers another important lesson: a living organism cannot be viewed solely as a source of profit. It must be treated with responsibility, ethics, and care. This is the foundation of humane agriculture.
The Market Is Necessary, But People Come First
In recent years, concepts such as “marketable product,” “export,” “income,” “profitability,” “cluster,” and “processing” have become very important in agriculture. This is correct. If agriculture does not generate income, if the farmer does not see benefit, if farmers do not become economically stronger, the sector does not develop. Knowing market demand, producing competitive products, and exporting are an important part of the modern economy.
But if agriculture is only for the market, it may one day distance itself from people. If we think only about profit, we may consume too much water, deplete the soil, treat animals without care, and prioritize quantity over quality. This may bring short-term profit, but in the long term, it can harm society.
Therefore, today's agriculture in Uzbekistan is choosing a new path: market-oriented, but human-centered agriculture. Recently, we discussed this in detail in an article about "The Table of 2050" in the New Uzbekistan newspaper. What does this mean?
It means – let the product be marketable, but let it serve human health.
It means – let the farmer earn income, but let the soil and water also be preserved.
It means: let exports grow, but do not forget domestic food security.
It means – let technology enter, but let it not harm nature.
It means – let livestock production increase, but ensure humane treatment of animals.
It means: let today's profit not come at the expense of future generations.
And here the HECI approach – Humanity, Ethics, Creativity, and Imagination – becomes very important for agriculture. Humanity teaches us to think of the good of the farmer, the consumer, the child, the mother, the worker, and the future generation. Ethics teaches us to ask, before "can we?", the question "is it right?" Creativity teaches us to find new solutions from existing possibilities, without waiting for expensive technologies. Imagination helps us see agriculture 10, 20, 50 years from now.
Epigenetic agronomy aligns perfectly with these four pillars. It is humane because it provides the farmer with simple, inexpensive methods. It is ethical because it uses nature's possibilities not through violence but through correct understanding. It is creative because it teaches us to see cold, light, color, water, and soil in a new way. It is imaginative because it shows how genetics and environmental management will combine in the future of agriculture.
What Does This Give Uzbekistan?
Uzbekistan's climate is dry, water resources are limited, and in some regions the soil is saline. The population is growing, and demand for food is increasing. The geopolitical situation, logistics, prices, and climate risks worldwide are forcing every country to take food security seriously. In such conditions, we cannot develop solely by using more land, more water, and more fertilizers. We must develop through more knowledge, more efficiency, more precision, and more responsibility.
Epigenetic agronomy offers several important opportunities for Uzbekistan. First, it more fully unlocks the potential of existing varieties. Second, it reduces seed use and uneven germination in the field. Third, it increases water and nutrient efficiency. Fourth, it enhances stress tolerance. Fifth, it brings the farmer closer to experience, observation, and knowledge. Sixth, it turns agriculture from a merely technical field into the art of managing a living system. It would be wrong to say that we do not need a large national program in this direction. On the contrary, this direction needs to be systematized on a scientific basis. In every region, for every major crop, simple field trials should be established so that seeds stored in cold and those not stored are compared; potato fields treated with red light and those not treated are compared; colored films are tested on different varieties, soils, and irrigation regimes; and seeds treated with biological products and untreated seeds are studied. The results should be evaluated not only by the question “did the yield increase?” but also by questions such as: “how did the root develop?”, “was water saved?”, “did ripening accelerate?”, “what was the product quality?”, “will this result be repeated next year?”
Scientific institutions should study these processes at the molecular level. By analyzing indicators such as DNA methylation, gene activity, stress memory, and chromatin state, we can turn simple farmers’ experience into great science. In this way, Uzbekistan’s agriculture can become not only a practical testing ground, but also a source of new ideas for the world.
We Need Creators of Agricultural Software
For many years, in agriculture we placed great emphasis on training “hardware” engineers: breeders, geneticists, mechanization specialists, irrigators, and technologists. This is very important. But now we also need creators of agricultural “software.” Who are they?
They are agronomists who know how to awaken the seed.
They are specialists who understand the plant's response to light, water, cold, salt, and soil.
They are scientists who offer farmers inexpensive yet smart solutions.
They are a new generation of personnel who see every field as an experimental plot, every farmer as an observer, every seed as a living possibility.
Agricultural education must also change in this direction. Students should not be limited to fertilizer and irrigation rates or to the names of diseases. They must understand how plants interact with the environment. They should be able to give simple, practical answers to questions such as: "What is a gene?" "What is an epigenetic trait?" "What is plant memory?" "What is stress preparation?" "What is the soil microbiome?" "How do biostimulants work?" "How does light quality affect the plant?" Then we will have not only new varieties but also new-thinking agronomists.
The Field of the Future – Intelligent, Humane, and Possessing Memory
What will the field of the future be like? It is not just a field where large machinery operates. It is not just an area where drones fly, sensors are installed, and everything is digitized. All that is needed. But the field of the future is, first and foremost, a field understood as a living system.
In it, the seed’s memory is taken into account. The soil’s breath is preserved. Water is not wasted. Light and temperature are used intelligently. Beneficial microbes are protected. Animals are treated not as product-making machines but as living beings.
The farmer feels responsibility not only for the harvest but also for health and the future. On such a field, there are market opportunities, income, and export. But above them stands a great goal: human health, nature’s sustainability, and the rights of future generations. Therefore, today we must say a new word in agriculture:
In conclusion, I want to emphasize once again:
A good seed is a smart computer. Proper agronomy is the software that runs it. Epigenetic knowledge is the art of correctly writing, correctly erasing, and correctly updating that software.
If we understand this, new opportunities will open in our agriculture. We will learn to grow not just more product, but a healthier product. We will build an agrarian system that works not just for the market but for people. We will think not only of today’s harvest but also of the table of the future generation.
Uzbekistan's agriculture is entering this path. This path is not easy, but it is the right path. The future of agriculture will rise not only on genetics but on the harmony of genetics and epigenetics, science and ethics, market and humanism, technology and nature.
From this very perspective, the large-scale reforms being implemented in our country's agriculture under the leadership of our President H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoev fully meet the demands of this new era. Supporting science, giving freedom to farmers and agricultural workers, introducing water-saving technologies, developing seed production, digitalization, processing, increasing export potential, and most importantly, placing human interests at the center – all of this is transforming agriculture from a mere product-producing sector into a new school of development based on science, preserving nature, enriching the farmer, and serving the health of the people.
Therefore, this new agrarian path taking shape in Uzbekistan – the harmony of genetics, epigenetics, modern agronomy, water conservation, digital solutions, and humane responsibility – can serve as a practical model worthy of study not only for our country but also for other states thinking about food security, climate change, and the future of agriculture. The deep meaning of these reforms is not just to increase the harvest, but to provide people with quality, safe, and healthy food, to preserve nature, and to fulfill our duty to future generations.
Most importantly, this path begins with each farmer. It begins when, taking a seed in hand, he sees in it not just a grain, but a smart "device" with great potential. It begins when, while irrigating a field, he sees in the water not just moisture but a signal to the plant. It begins when he perceives light, color, cold, heat, soil, and care as tools for managing the plant's software. Then farming becomes not just a profession, but science-based creativity. Agriculture becomes not just a market, but a school of humane development. And our table becomes not just abundant, but healthy, safe, and worthy of the future generation.
Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov,
Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Academician
