At a meeting of the Bureau of the Presidium of the NAS of Belarus, a decision was made on the results of the Best Variety breeding achievements competition for the best variety (hybrid) of agricultural plants. The Asima winter soft wheat variety was recognized as the best. This is a joint development of scientists from Scientific and Practical Centre of the NAS of Belarus on Agriculture and the Institute of Genetics and Cytology of the NAS of Belarus.        

Asima is a highly productive, high-quality short-stemmed variety of winter wheat of intensive use, resistant to the main types of diseases (fungal diseases). The average yield over the years of testing was 69.4 hundred kilograms per hectare, the maximum was 122 hundred kilograms per hectare. The baking qualities are good, the overall baking score is 4.3 points. It stands out for its high resistance to lodging and winter hardiness. It can be used to produce bakery products. It can successfully replace winter wheat varieties of foreign breeding.

According to the Regulations, the nomination of a variety (hybrid) for the Best Variety of the NAS of Belarus breeding achievements competition for the best variety (hybrid) of agricultural plants is allowed, if this variety (hybrid) was included in the state register of varieties of agricultural plants of the State Inspectorate for Testing and Protection of Plant Varieties no earlier than 5 years before the competition year. One prize is awarded for the development of a new domestic variety that surpasses the varieties of foreign breeding cultivated in the Republic of Belarus in terms of yield and other technological indicators and solves the problems of import substitution. The prize is awarded both individually and to a team of applicants. The right to nominate works for participation in the competition is granted to scientific organizations of the NAS of Belarus, their employees who are authors, in the order of self-nomination.

The Best Variety of the NAS of Belarus breeding achievements competition for the best variety (hybrid) of agricultural plants is held in order to form a holistic positive image of science, increase its authority, attract the attention of the general public to the achievements of Belarusian breeders, provide up-to-date information on developments carried out for the socio-economic development of the country, stimulate creative and professional activity of scientists.