Industrial enzymes, bacterial and yeast starter cultures are among the most in-demand products of modern genetic technologies and have a crucial role in the food industry. Russia is one of the largest food producers in the world, but at the same time has a very high degree of dependence on imported enzyme and microbial cultures in a number of industries. The work deals with the data of state statistics on the production and import of microbial cultures and enzymes in Russia. The highest share of imported microbial cultures is noted in the segment of bacterial cultures (~400 000 tons per year), primarily in the dairy industry. In the segment of yeast cultures, the share of imports is lower, but in a number of narrower segments, such as the wine industry, it reaches 98% according to expert estimates.