Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Phosagro – Phosagro – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Sirius. On November 28, 2025, PhosAgro presented its projects to support science and higher education at the 5th Congress of Young Scientists. At the forum's plenary session, Denis Novikov, CEO of Apatit JSC (part of the PhosAgro Group), and Olga Ivaschenkova, Lead Engineer of the Geological Institute of the Kola Science Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, reported on the company's work in this area to Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko.
This year, the key annual event of the Decade of Science and Technology was held under the theme "The Energy of Science: From the Potential of Knowledge to Creating the Future." More than 9,000 participants gathered at the Sirius Federal Park. These included leaders of leading scientific schools, representatives of educational organizations, government agencies, and major industrial partners.
As moderator of the plenary session, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko emphasized that, according to the Ministry of Economic Development, Russia's nominal GDP will reach 315 trillion rubles by 2030. Research spending should increase by 2% of GDP, or more than 6 trillion rubles. The government is counting on the support of business and the industrial sector in this important endeavor.
"Young scientists are our main driver. We're betting on them. Friends, you're not only bursting with new ideas, but you're also inspiring everyone—including your mentors, whom you surprise and delight with your results. Many young researchers are already leading their own teams—for example, running youth laboratories," noted Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Chernyshenko.
PhosAgro, one of the congress's industrial partners, presented its own stand at the event, covering all areas of support for science and education, as well as cutting-edge youth outreach projects. The Group includes NIUIF, Russia's only and one of the world's leading specialized research institutes for fertilizers and agrochemistry. PhosAgro collaborates with the Russian Academy of Sciences and Innopraktika to develop innovative solutions. PhosAgro also devotes significant attention to research in agrobiotechnology at the Sirius University of Science and Technology, where the company supported the opening of the Life Sciences laboratory complex, one of the largest in Russia. PhosAgro also supports young researchers through projects with leading international organizations and specialized Russian universities, and is establishing a higher school for training mining engineers at a branch of Murmansk Arctic University in Apatity.
"PhosAgro is a leading supplier of mineral fertilizers to Russian farmers and customers in 100 countries. And we know from experience that science is essential in a highly competitive environment. While science may go unnoticed in production, its absence has immediate consequences. Over the past 10 years, we've doubled our fertilizer output. This is the result of extensive investment in development and R&D – over 70 billion rubles annually. This comprehensive work is bearing fruit. Ten years ago, we had 25 fertilizer brands; today, we have 58. As part of our development strategy through 2030, we plan to expand our product range to 100 brands. Furthermore, we have patents for the production of a full line of bio-based NPK fertilizers. These contain beneficial microorganisms that help plants better absorb nutrients. These are truly breakthrough technologies, and completely domestically produced," said Denis Novikov, CEO of Apatit JSC.
One of the panel session's experts was Olga Ivaschenkova, a researcher at the Kola Science Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences—the largest federal research center north of the Arctic Circle. It is home to the highest levels of expertise in earth sciences, including geology, mining, raw material extraction and processing technologies, and chemical processing. Throughout its history, the KSC's most important technological partner has been the Apatit Plant and the PhosAgro Group as a whole. With PhosAgro's support, the KSC established a Research Center for the detailed study of mineral composition and further improvement of apatite-nepheline ore processing efficiency. Olga Ivaschenkova works there in the Apatite-Nepheline Deposit Ore Mineralogy Group.
"I perform in-depth petrographic and mineralogical analysis of process samples. My task is to identify 'hidden' rock properties that affect ore beneficiability. We work to extract as much useful material as possible from the ore, while maintaining the high quality of the final product (apatite concentrate)—even if the ore composition changes. Over three years, we've analyzed 3,500 samples. Based on the results, we create a 3D model of geological and technical mapping of the deposits being developed, which the company uses to plan ore extraction with a more accurate assessment of the parameters. This isn't just abstract research. Our work directly impacts the extraction and processing of exceptionally pure apatite-nepheline ore mined by PhosAgro. It's used to produce environmentally friendly phosphorus-containing fertilizers. Today, it's especially important that the results of scientific research aren't confined to laboratories, but find real-world applications. "The relationship between the Kola Science Center and PhosAgro, and the company's support in this regard, is unique. I am proud that our scientific work makes a real contribution to ensuring food security and the economic and technological sovereignty of our country," emphasized Olga Ivaschenkova, Lead Engineer at the Kola Science Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Geological Institute.
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