Lysenko gained Stalin's favor by presenting his ideas as a practical solution to the Soviet Union's agricultural problems. Stalin saw Lysenkoism as aligned with Marxist ideology.

Lysenko's political connections provided him with immunity from criticism and allowed him to control scientific institutions and resources. Dissenting scientists faced severe consequences.

Initially, Khrushchev continued to support Lysenko, though skepticism began to grow within the scientific community due to continued agricultural failures. Khrushchev saw Lysenko's methods as potentially revolutionary and aligned with his own ambitious agricultural plans.