The expert reported a surge in low-quality crop production courses in 2025

In 2025, the green industry is experiencing an increase in interest from Russians, but at the same time, a "bubble" of low-quality educational products is forming in the crop production market. Along with professional centers and specialized universities, dozens of courses of dubious quality are emerging that promise quick success and simple solutions in a technically complex industry. Alexander Bezmaternykh, an expert, vice-president of the Association of Plant Growers (APPM), and head of the Flower City nursery, told Izvestia on December 2 about the danger posed by fake crop production training.

"Classical colleges and universities do not teach how to make a modern nursery, work with plants, how to sell them and how to make money on the market. The lack of professional training has caused a whole wave of offers of information services of very different quality. If there is a demand, there will always be active entrepreneurs who will come up with bright and attractive slogans that do not always match the promises," the source explained.

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According to him, manipulative marketing practices are also becoming a serious problem. Unscrupulous players create a scarcity effect, form closed communities and build a cult of "gurus", constantly involving listeners in the purchase of new products. The fear of missing out is imposed on customers, they promise high income from the first season and hide the real difficulties — from finding clients to legal aspects. Bezmaternykh stressed that real education is always systematic and takes time.

To avoid mistakes, experts recommend checking the course organizers, paying attention to who accepts the payment and who is the speaker. The lack of information about the organizer, the abundance of loud promises and unrealistic success stories are the first signs of an unscrupulous project. Natalia Legenchuk, head of the Archetype of the Forest nursery, noted that only those who have real work results should be trusted.

"Nursery farming is a technically complex and capital—intensive industry, where you need to understand the goals and technologies of entering a business well. Therefore, only people who have the results of real work, such as a successful nursery, should be trusted in training. Without real results that can be seen, there is no trust in the course organizer," she explained.

The problem can only be solved comprehensively. The professional community needs to actively enter the public field, develop popular science projects, and support the blogs of botanists, agronomists, and environmentalists. It is important to form open communities where beginners can get proven advice from practitioners. The proliferation of low-quality courses not only misleads people, but also undermines confidence in the industry as a whole. Conscientious players — nurseries, associations, and educational institutions — will have to join forces to popularize the scientific approach and provide access to expert knowledge for anyone interested in the green topic.

Izvestia reported on July 28 about indoor plants for beginners. One of the most unpretentious plants is sansevieria, or "pike's tail". It easily tolerates the absence of light, is not afraid of drafts, and it is watered no more than once every two weeks.

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