The expert spoke about the use of a laser to combat hogweed

In Russia, they may start using a laser beam to combat the spread of hogweed. This was announced on June 1 by Sofia Zhelezova, a leading researcher at the All-Russian Plant Quarantine Center (VNIIKR), Doctor of Agricultural Sciences.

"New methods of combating hogweed include physical, such as burning with a flame or laser beam, and biological, such as the selection of pests and pathogens of hogweed," the expert said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

At the same time, she stressed that such innovative methods are still significantly inferior in effectiveness to traditional methods: mechanical, chemical and agrotechnical.

Zhelezova clarified that it is impossible to completely eradicate the weed the first time. To achieve the result, it is necessary to combine different approaches over the course of two or three seasons, provided that there are no new seeds from neighboring territories.

According to the Rosselkhoznadzor territorial administration, over the past four years, more than 93 thousand hectares of agricultural land seized by weeds have been identified. The specialist added that the area of distribution of hogweed is increasing annually by 10-20%. To achieve the reduction of these territories, it is necessary to exterminate at least 20-25% of plants every year.

Sosnovsky's hogweed: what is dangerous, how to remove burns and how to deal with AI

How does hogweed spread and how to protect yourself from it

Last summer, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a law that obliges land owners to combat Sosnovsky hogweed and other invasive (alien) plants. The new obligations entered into force on March 1, 2026.

Lawyer Sofya Lukinova noted on March 10 in a conversation with Izvestia that land owners may face serious fines due to the weed. The fight against hogweed is now considered by the state as an important environmental task. The plant is an aggressive invasive species that spreads rapidly and displaces native vegetation. In addition, hogweed is dangerous to humans and animals: its juice can cause severe skin burns, especially when exposed to sunlight.