A new laboratory has been opened at Kursk State Agricultural University n.a. I.I. Ivanov with the support of EkoNiva Group. This represents a significant and logical step forward in the partnership between the institution and the company, creating additional opportunities for training specialists in the farming sector. At the grand opening of the agricultural technology laboratory within the Department of Secondary Vocational Education, Aleksandr Chepik, Acting Governor of Kursk Oblast, Ramon Schenk, Regional Director of EkoNiva Group for Voronezh and Kursk Oblasts, and Aleksandr Musyal, Rector of Kursk State Agricultural University, made a welcoming speech to the students.

‘As a graduate of the Economics Department of Ryazan State Agrotechnological University, I have always paid particular attention to the development of farming in my work. This is of paramount importance for Kursk oblast, an agricultural region where people work the land and advance the industry. I would like to thank our partners, EkoNiva team, for their assistance in establishing the agricultural technology laboratory. There is no question that this modern educational space will be highly appreciated by both students and teachers. We expect that the university graduates will become true professionals and find worthy employment in our region’, comments Aleksandr Chepik.

The laboratory will serve as a training facility for students of the Department of Secondary Vocational Education pursuing degrees in Agronomy and Plant-Based Food Technology, as well as the Crop Production Master vocational qualification. They have been granted access to state-of-the-art specialised equipment: diaphanoscopes, gluten deformation meters used to determine wheat quality, electron microscopes, moisture meters for cereals, oilseeds and other crops, laboratory mills, dough mixing machines with the automatic water dosing option and computer hardware. As for EkoNiva, it has made a considerable long-term investment in developing the educational process and preparing high-level professionals ready to work efficiently for the benefit of the industry.

‘Following the comprehensive cooperation with EkoNiva, we have launched a branded classroom, aiming at strengthening our practice-oriented training. It is crucial for the students to gain knowledge using equipment that mirrors real production environment – they will be more confident when starting work immediately after graduation’, notes Aleksandr Musyal, Rector of Kursk State Agricultural University. ‘We are set to accomplish important tasks. The new laboratory will operate in close connection with our research and production centre and tests conducted on trial plots. Everything our students learn here can be applied in real-world conditions.’

At the opening ceremony, visitors saw firsthand the potential the laboratory can unlock: adopting cutting-edge technologies, the staff demonstrated a step-by-step assessment of seed and grain quality.

‘The branded laboratory is not just another infrastructure upgrade. We have created a modern, motivating environment for students and contributed again to the strong alliance between education and agribusiness. Such partnership is a reliable investment in building a talent pool for Russia's farming sector’, says Ramon Schenk, Regional Director of EkoNiva Group for Voronezh and Kursk Oblasts.

The collaboration between Kursk State Agricultural University and the company, which began in 2021, has progressed to a whole new level over the past several years. The partnership now encompasses full training for future farming specialists: from initial introduction to the profession during high school to a confident career start at the Group's leading enterprises.