In 2025, the Russian Science Foundation (RNF) summed up the results of the mega-grant competition for fundamental and exploratory scientific research led by leading foreign scientists, including research of an applied nature. The amount of such a grant will range from 20 to 50 million rubles annually. The support period is 5 years with the possibility of extension for another 3 years.

Based on the results of the examination, the Southern Federal University project "Development and implementation of a methodology for creating a digital soil twin based on artificial intelligence and Big Data technologies" was supported under the leadership of Tanwar Sudeep, professor and Dean of Marwadi University (India), an expert in the field of security system development and building wireless and intelligent networks.

"The joint research initiative was born out of professional ties between researchers from India and Russia, common academic interests, and previous joint publications in AI, big data, and digital modeling, which perfectly aligns with our research interests in digital soil mapping and sustainable land management. A common vision for the development of environmental science through advanced digital technologies, supported by the successful experience of Russian-Indian projects, quickly formed mutual understanding and enthusiasm for this cooperation. Building on the solid foundation of existing scientific ties, we will be able to significantly accelerate progress and achieve significant results in creating innovative solutions for soil health and sustainable agriculture," Tanwar Sudeep shared.

A network of regional soil data centers has been operating in the Moscow, Belgorod and Rostov regions of Russia for several years. Their goal is to collect a representative training sample for modeling soil cover using AI, in other words, to create "digital doubles" of soils. In the Rostov region, such a data center is the Bioengineering Center of the SFedU Academy of Biology and Medicine, and data collection is assisted by the regional branch of the Agrochemical Service of Russia and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Rostov Region.

Yuri Litvinov, head of the SFedU Center for Bioengineering, said that today more than 90% of the region's soil data has been digitized.

"Having a digital version of all agricultural lands, it is possible to provide timely information about them to farmers and the Ministry of Agriculture, it is possible to objectively carry out a cadastral assessment of any piece of land and, most importantly, recommend what dose of mineral fertilizers is needed in each specific case," Yuri Litvinov shared.

Soil cover modeling requires analyzing a large amount of soil data, which only artificial intelligence can handle. But the soil information is sparse, incomplete, and multimodal, which means that not every AI will be able to correctly evaluate and analyze it.

"My colleagues from Marwadi University — Rajkot, India, Dr. Rajesh Gupta, Dr. Nilesh Kumar Jadav and others — and I specialize in wireless and intelligent networks, cybersecurity and intelligent systems. However, we are aware that the integration of advanced digital technologies is critically important for solving complex social problems that go beyond the traditional field of ICT. Soil science and soil fertility have a direct impact on sustainable agriculture and food security, which is crucial for the socio-economic stability of India and the world. Our interdisciplinary approach reflects the desire to use intelligent and secure network systems for the benefit of society, reducing the gap between engineering and sustainable management of natural resources. This is in line with the global priorities of smart agriculture and supports India's strategy of technological self—reliance and environmental sustainability," explained Professor (Dr.) Sudeep Tanwar.

That is why the methodology for creating a digital soil twin will be developed by soil scientists from the D.I. Ivanovsky Academy of Biology and Medicine of the Southern Federal University, IT specialists from the Institute of Computer Technology and Information Security of the Southern Federal University and a world expert from India. On the Russian side, the megagrant will be headed by Svetlana Sushkova, Head of the Scientific Research Laboratory of Intelligent Agroecosystems.

"Currently, a large amount of soil information has been accumulated, characterized by diversity, chronology of acquisition and heterogeneous data sources. In this regard, the issue of developing new methodological solutions for the implementation of operational intelligent analysis of soil data becomes relevant. It is assumed that these technologies will not only increase the efficiency of agricultural production, but also minimize the cost of maintaining soil fertility. The results of the project will create a scientific and technological base for environmentally sustainable agricultural land management practices," Svetlana Sushkova explained.

As a result, a network of distributed soil databases will be created in the Rostov region and a graphical interface for the digital twin of the region's soils will be developed.

"The methodology of creating digital soil twins using AI and big data will not only deepen scientific understanding, but also provide specific tools for farmers, regulators and agrotechnology companies. This will optimize land use, dose fertilizers more precisely, and introduce sustainable farming practices, which will directly increase yields and long-term soil health. Such results are particularly important for India, where food security is a national priority, as well as for other countries facing climate change and land degradation. The adaptable and secure digital platform we are developing can be applied in various agro—climatic zones of the world, helping countries to create sustainable agricultural systems and ensure food security for future generations," concluded Tanwar Sudeep.

This project is a clear example of how the Russian—Indian scientific partnership is able to solve global challenges by creating innovations with real social impact. Professor (Dr.) R.B. Jadeja, Provost, Professor (Dr.) Sanjit Singh, Pro Vice Chancellor, and Professor Naresh Jadeja, Executive Registrar, congratulate Professor (Dr.) Sudip Tanwar on receiving this international joint mega-grant between India and Russia, which opens the doors to all stakeholders.

For reference: Professor Tanwar Sudeep is the author/co-author of more than 550 scientific publications (including 224+ journal articles, 420+ papers indexed in SCOPUS, and 217+ articles in journals indexed in SCI/SCIE, including IEEE/Wiley Transactions). He is the author/editor of 33 books (including 7 authored books, 16 edited books (5 books as sole editor) and 10 edited books based on conference proceedings). He is included in the list of the top 2% of scientists in the world (the last 6 years in a row, i.e. 2024-25, 2023-24, 2022-23, 2021-22, 2020-21 and 2019-20). Scopus h-index is 98. He has more than 24 years of teaching experience (lecturer, senior lecturer, associate professor, professor) and more than 20 years of administrative experience (head of department, registrar, Director). He has academic and scientific awards of national and international level.