EkoNiva has taken part in VIR 130: Plant Genetic Resources, an international conference dedicated to the anniversary of the founding of Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry. Specialists and trainees of the company presented their view on the problem of formation of today’s scientific schools.

The Group’s representatives met with fellow scholars at the round-table discussion ‘Plant breeding and seed production: exchange of experience, development issues’, which was held under the auspices of the National Union of Plant Breeders and Seed Producers. Vitaliy Voloshchenko, Director of the Group's Plant Breeding and Seed Maintenance Centre, and Dmitriy Mashtakov, a trainee plant breeder and student of the Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, gave a presentation on the current problems of developing modern competencies of plant breeders and in scientific schools.

‘It is good to see that a course has been set for priority aspects of plant breeding that accelerate the process, such as the use of genetic and phytotronic technologies. EkoNiva is one of the few representatives of the business community that can aspire to applied cooperation with VIR. We are actively establishing interaction with the Institute of Plant Industry not only in plant breeding, but also in educational science’, says Vitaliy Voloshchenko.

The company and VIR are engaged in joint outreach activities and training of academic staff. The Vavilovets personnel project has been successfully operating at EkoNiva for six years. During this time, about 90 students from 16 agricultural universities of the country have become its participants. This year alone, 17 students have done internships at Kursk branch of the company's plant breeding centre. It is here that future scientists have a chance to step closer to such complex disciplines as plant breeding and seed production. Every year after their practical training, the project participants visit the Institute of Plant Industry. They get acquainted with its history and modern research, visit the genebank, cryoreservoir, herbarium, famous scientific library and memorial office of Nikolay Vavilov, a world-famous plant breeder and geneticist, botanist and geographer, teacher and statesman.

‘We want to give our students an opportunity to touch the main asset of the world's collection of genetic resources. This, of course, increases the interest of young people in plant breeding science and contributes to the popularisation of Vavilov's ideas. After all, the task of educating personnel is one of long-term and very important ones. Nikolay Ivanovich always highlighted that every researcher is simply obliged to be a teacher and mentor to pass on their knowledge to the next generations of young scientists’, emphasises Vitaliy Voloshchenko.

‘I am excited to work with professionals at EkoNiva, as they are open-hearted and eager to share their experience. In my opinion, it is essential for every young specialist to be surrounded by like-minded people, colleagues and an academic advisor. The latter plays an important role in guiding students, and it is with this person that you can discuss your thoughts and ideas. Preservation and multiplication of scientific schools, mentoring development at production facilities is of great significance’, says Dmitriy Mashtakov.

In addition, during the international conference in VIR, outstanding representatives of the industry were solemnly awarded as part of the joint event with the National Union of Plant Breeders and Seed Producers. Among the medal takers were Yuriy Vasyukov, Deputy Director General for Seed Production at EkoNiva-APK Holding, and Vitaliy Voloshchenko, Director of the Group's Plant Breeding and Seed Maintenance Centre. The company cooperates with the Union and has been an active member of its council since the first days of its establishment.

‘EkoNiva contributed to the becoming of modern seed production in the Russian Federation, in particular, to the adoption of the first law on seed production in the country. Today, the Union is a strong organisation that represents the interests of the entire Russian plant breeding and seed growing community in all government agencies. In recent years, the number of participants has tripled. The Union is enlarging, which means that it is enhancing its position and continues to work for the benefit of the industry’, comments Yuriy Vasyukov.