Stefan Dürr, Founder and President of Russia’s largest dairy holding EkoNiva Group, has launched the milk processing plant in Maslyanino, Novosibirsk oblast. The opening ceremony was attended via video conference by the President of Russia Vladimir Putin and the Governor of Novosibirsk oblast Andrey Travnikov.

The construction of the dairy plant in Maslyanino district, Novosibirsk oblast, commenced in 2018. The project is implemented by Siberian Academy of Dairy Sciences LLC. The total investment amounts to 38 billion rubles.

The plant has the capacity to process 1,150 t of raw milk per day and produce a wide range of natural dairy products. More specifically, 35,700 t per year of soft, semi-hard and hard cheeses based on in-house unique recipes will be made here. The facility also features a line for drying and demineralising (purifying) milk whey, a by-product of cheese production. Demineralised whey powder of 90 per cent, i. e. maximum demineralisation level (D-90, Demi-90 or DWP-90) is the main ingredient in the production of infant formula, including breast milk substitutes, as well as nurse and sports nutrition products. The output of the plant will amount to approx. 16,000 t of the innovative ingredient a year, which will allow to not only cater to the needs of the domestic market, but also ramp up the export to China, Middle East and South-East Asian countries. The facility is scheduled to become fully operational in 2029.

The raw milk is supplied from EkoNiva’s own farms located close to the plant. The Group adheres to the ‘from field to shop shelf principle’ and controls all the stages of the production chain – from the growing feedstuffs for the own herd consisting of cows of high-productive breeds to the release of premium-quality wholesome dairy products.

Vladimir Putin thanked Stefan Dürr for the work accomplished and wished the company’s team success.