EkoNiva Group, the largest raw milk producer in Russia, is launching a tour project at Ogneva Zaimka dairy in Cherepanovo district, Novosibirsk oblast. The company announced this at Siberian Tourism Forum held in Novosibirsk from 5 to 7 April.

Ogneva Zaimka became the first EkoNiva’s enterprise in the Siberian region open for excursions. Up to the present day, it was possible to visit EkoNiva’s farms only in Voronezh and Kaluga oblasts.

The tour programme of Ogneva Zaimka is arranged similarly to those at other dairies of the company. A special sightseeing route of the farm was created for guests giving an idea of the main milk production stages. First, the attendees can see how the herd is managed on the dairy farms: from newborn calves to adult animals. Then, experienced guides provide full information about forage preparation, animal care and the formulation of their daily ration. Next, the visitors get acquainted with the milking process on the rotary. Moreover, they are introduced to the details of transporting raw milk to the factory for further processing. In the end, the guests are treated to EKONIVA finished dairy products. The main part of the tour is usually followed by workshops and outdoor activities.

EkoNiva has been developing the tour project since 2013. By opening the enterprises for visitors, the Group demonstrates business transparency and a responsible attitude towards dairy production. Moreover, one of the key goals of the excursions is to raise interest in agriculture. Children of different ages who come to the farms may become sought-after specialists in the agricultural sector in the future. Over the 10-year lifespan of the project, more than 140,000 people have visited the company’s enterprises: schoolchildren, students of agricultural universities, tourists and the company's business partners.

‘We are delighted with the launch of EkoNiva tour project in one of the key regions for the Group —Novosibirsk oblast. Now, more people will be able to see for themselves the company’s principle of operation ‘from field to shop shelf’ and learn that modern agriculture is a high-tech industry. We hope that our project attracts many tourists to the region’, says Yekaterina Bartseva, EkoNiva Tour Project Development Manager.

EkoNiva Group, the largest milk-producing holding in Russia, has been operating in the Siberian region since 2006. Sibirskaya Niva, the holding’s enterprise, specialises in raw milk production, beef and pedigree cattle breeding, crop production and seed growing. The total farmland of the enterprise in Novosibirsk oblast and Altai area is 112,000 ha. Over 36,000 head of cattle are housed on four production facilities in Novosibirsk oblast, the daily output exceeds 540 tonnes of milk. The enterprise currently employs over 1,300 specialists.