Category: Russian Energy sector

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Phosagro – Phosagro – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Kirovsk (Murmansk Region). On December 1, 2025, the Tirvas Ski Complex in Kirovsk hosted the first stage of the PhosAgro Russian Cup cross-country skiing competition for the first time in its history. This year, the Tirvas Ski Complex celebrates its 10th anniversary. A press breakfast was held to commemorate this anniversary, as well as the stadium's debut in the first stage of the PhosAgro Russian Cup. The leadership of the Russian Cross-Country Skiing Federation, the Gornyak Sports and Recreation Complex, which manages the Tirvas infrastructure, members and coaches of the national cross-country skiing team, sports veterans, and journalists from the Murmansk Region media summarized the stadium's development over the past two five-year periods.

As Anton Trushenko, Director of the Gornyak Sports and Recreation Center, told the meeting participants, the ski resort's infrastructure and capabilities have expanded significantly during this time. The total length of Tirvasa's trails has increased from five to 13.5 kilometers, 5.8 of which are artificially lit. The resort's capacity has increased tenfold, from 200 to 2,000 people. A press center and commentary booth have been added to the administrative building, while the grandstands have been expanded from 150 to 500 seats, along with ample parking. Two snow cannons, three snowcats, and seven snowmobiles maintain the quality of the trails. Competition results are recorded by an electronic timing system, and a modern digital scoreboard displays them to spectators. All this allows Tirvasa to host competitions of the highest level.

"The Russian Cross-Country Skiing Federation is very fortunate in this case, because we not only found a reliable partner and sponsor in PhosAgro, but also good friends who understand and are willing to accommodate us. I am confident that this anniversary is a small beginning of a very great future not only for this stadium and these ski slopes, but also for the city of Kirovsk as a whole, which is developing very dynamically. This city and Tirvas are becoming famous on the world skiing map. I would like to sincerely thank PhosAgro and everyone involved, who also enjoy our visits," said Elena Vyalbe, President of the Russian Cross-Country Skiing Federation, congratulating Tirvas on its 10th anniversary.

In his video congratulations, Oleg Matytsin, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports, also noted Tirvas's achievements.

"Over this decade, we've seen an impressive development path. Our oldest training facility has become a modern, international-level center that meets the highest standards. Tirvas can be proud of its achievements: it has hosted the final stage of the Russian Cup three times, and the unique Bolshoy Vudyavr race has become a world-class challenge, surpassing the difficulty of famous European trails," noted the head of the relevant committee of the lower house of the Russian parliament.

For the first time in the new sports season, the Russian Cross-Country Skiing Federation (FLGR) entrusted the Tirvas Ski Complex with hosting the first stage of the PhosAgro Russian Cross-Country Skiing Cup. However, the stadium has every potential to become a full-fledged training base for the national team.

"We're moving in that direction. The conditions here are excellent for the spring. We need to take advantage of these opportunities. We're already exploring various options for holding not just training camps, but also competitive tournaments, even within the framework of a championship, and various race formats, even if they're unconventional. We see that absolutely everything is here," emphasized Yuri Borodavko, head coach of the Russian national cross-country skiing team.

Since 2015, PhosAgro has been participating in the construction and development of the Tirvas ski complex. Its flagship mining and processing plant, the Kirov branch of Apatit JSC, operates in the Khibiny Mountains.

"The Apatit Mining and Processing Plant and PhosAgro are demonstrating strong production results and are growing dynamically. At the same time, we always take a responsible approach to social investments. We invest where we see the greatest return—supporting education and sports, including children's, amateur, and elite sports," emphasized Valery Fyodorov, Deputy CEO of PhosAgro and Vice President of the Russian Ski Federation.

A total of 394 top skiers competed in the first stage of the PhosAgro Russian Cross-Country Skiing Cup. Not only Russian athletes took to the tracks, but also representatives from the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Belarus. The "red group" of the strongest skiers this season included true stars of the sport: Alexander Bolshunov, Alexander Terentyev, Yulia Stupak, Tatyana Sorina, Saveliy Korostelev, Alina Pekletsova, Darya Nepryaeva, and many others.

Honorary guests of the first stage of the PhosAgro Russian Cross-Country Skiing Cup included Elena Vyalbe, President of the Russian Cross-Country Skiing Federation, three-time Olympic champion, and 14-time world champion; Nikolai Zimyatov, four-time Olympic champion, Olympic silver medalist, and three-time world champion; Mikhail Devyatyarov, Olympic champion, silver medalist, and world championship medalist; Alexander Zavyalov, three-time Olympic medalist, World Cup winner, and world champion; Tamara Tikhonova, two-time Olympic champion and two-time world champion; and Alexei Petukhov, Olympic bronze medalist and world champion.

The three competition days of the first stage of the National Cup included classic and freestyle races of 10 km for women and 15 km for men, as well as freestyle sprint competitions.

Based on the results of the first stage, the overall standings for the 2025-2026 PhosAgro Russian Cross-Country Skiing Cup are led by Sergey Ardashev, representing Tatarstan, in the men's category, and Evgenia Krupitskaya, representing St. Petersburg, in the women's category. Tatarstan leads the team standings.

PhosAgro, the official sponsor of the national cross-country skiing team, traditionally provides organizational and financial support for the PhosAgro Russian Cup.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Phosagro – Phosagro – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Moscow. December 1, 2025. PhosAgro presented a digital educational platform. ProAgro Lecture Hall At the International Scientific and Educational Conference "Education for Food Security in BRICS Countries." The conference, held for the first time, served as a platform for discussing key issues of international cooperation between BRICS countries in the areas of training personnel for the agro-industrial complex, developing the scientific and technical potential of young people, and promoting agricultural knowledge.

The Conference's partners included the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Russian Ministry of Agriculture, the Liaison Office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with the Russian Federation, the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Timiryazev Moscow Agricultural Academy, the Skryabin Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology, the D.I. Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, and the Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia. PhosAgro provided organizational support.

The conference was attended by international and Russian students, postgraduate students, young scientists, business representatives, and the ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary of India, Brazil, Kenya, and Ethiopia. Belan Khamchiev, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Agrarian and Food Policy and Environmental Management, and Pyotr Chekmarev, Deputy President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, also addressed the participants with welcoming remarks.

Opening the official part of the conference, PhosAgro Deputy CEO for Sales and Marketing Mikhail Sterkin noted that PhosAgro, as a guarantor of food security in Russia and globally, is making a significant contribution to the creation of a sustainable agricultural sector. The company not only increases fertilizer supplies to BRICS countries but also implements a number of humanitarian and educational projects. For example, PhosAgro, together with UNESCO and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), is implementing the "Green Chemistry for Life" program, annually awarding grants to young scientists for research in sustainable agriculture and environmental protection. Over eight rounds of the program, 55 young scientists from 33 countries have been selected as grant recipients.

PhosAgro, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, implements soil conservation projects. For example, through the "Soil Doctors" program, more than 15,000 farmers from 27 countries have gained valuable knowledge on effective soil management methods.

PhosAgro's flagship project, the ProAgro Lecture Hall, has become an important area of international cooperation in training personnel for the mineral fertilizer and agricultural industries.

"By investing in innovative products for the agricultural sector, we understand that the industry needs advanced specialists who can implement new solutions in everyday practice. Therefore, together with the Russian Ministry of Agriculture, we launched the Russian digital educational platform "ProAgro Lecture," providing free access to methodologically verified information for students and farmers from around the world. Currently, the program covers 47 agricultural universities. Students have access to an impressive portfolio of 420 digitized video lectures on agronomy and agrochemistry, crop production and livestock farming, innovation and digitalization in agriculture, economics, and responsible farming, developed by 170 speakers across 22 areas. I would also like to point out that the platform also offers continuing professional education courses in 16 areas. The educational project's total audience exceeded 70,000 people. Over the past year, ProAgro Lecture Hall has become a true international educational hub in modern agricultural technologies and won the BRICS Solutions Awards. Lecturers in the educational program include representatives from China, India, Brazil, and other countries. "Together, we can make a significant contribution to ensuring food security for the planet and developing environmentally responsible agricultural practices," noted Mikhail Sterkin.

In his speech, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Ryabkov noted PhosAgro's significant contribution to strengthening food security and stability in the BRICS region, not only as a leading fertilizer supplier but also as a key partner in numerous agricultural development programs, education, culture, and sports. He also praised PhosAgro's work as the curator of the BRICS Business Council's working group on agribusiness.

"It's clear that education is the foundation upon which the future is built. Promoting technical and vocational education and training has become a priority area of BRICS cooperation. In this regard, I express my full support for the ProAgro Lectures educational platform, which helps improve skills and prepare personnel for the agro-industrial complex—a key area and crucial work."

"Scientific and educational partnerships with leading international organizations are important and in demand, including the implementation of joint programs with UNESCO, FAO, and other authoritative UN agencies. Of particular importance is the creation of an international network of soil laboratories and the introduction of resources related to land management technologies. Such planned collaboration, combining educational projects, scientific research, and the practical implementation of advanced agricultural technologies, not only helps develop sustainable agriculture but also lays a solid foundation for long-term cooperation and its further strengthening in the interests of all BRICS countries," emphasized Sergey Ryabkov.

"Cooperation with PhosAgro is of strategic importance for our Academy. PhosAgro served as Timiryazev Academy's key industrial partner in 2019. We are pleased to note that the development of a large-scale network of educational centers spanning various regions of the country began at our facility. The modern, multifunctional educational and exhibition complex, the Timiryazev Center, where today's Conference is being held, is another clear result of our fruitful collaboration. We highly appreciate the forward-looking nature of business, which is focused on investing significant resources in the development of science, laying the groundwork for the future, and supporting the younger generation of specialists," noted Vladimir Trukhachev, Rector of the Timiryazev Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Agricultural Academy.

"Today, we see businesses setting new trajectories for educational initiatives. A great example is the ProAgro Lecture platform, which offers educational programs in a new digital format and blurs the boundaries between countries. Anyone can enroll. It also offers an important career path that allows for employment in the agricultural sector, which enriches our industry with qualified personnel. Furthermore, we have another important project with PhosAgro: agrotechnology classes, which provide in-depth training for schoolchildren in specialized subjects and prepare them for admission to agricultural colleges and universities. We are currently working with PhosAgro to establish agrotechnology classes in African countries," said Alexander Nekrasov, Deputy Director of the Department of Scientific and Technological Policy and Education at the Russian Ministry of Agriculture.

Irina Abramova, Director of the Institute for African Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences, noted that the African continent is the only region in the world where the number of hungry people increases annually. The population there is constantly growing and now stands at 1.5 billion people, consuming a billion tons of food annually. However, the level of agricultural development on the continent is much lower.

"It's important for Africa to address not just food security but also food sovereignty. Sovereignty, more broadly, is the ability to feed oneself. And this is impossible without modern technology and, most importantly, without trained personnel. That's why the platform offered by PhosAgro has generated extraordinary interest among Africans. We understand that, in the face of soil degradation, desertification, and climate change, it's impossible to develop agriculture without modern technology. And technology must be supported by personnel. Only training is the key to food sovereignty, which will ensure Africa a dignified future," emphasized Irina Abramova.

The official part of the Conference concluded with an awards ceremony for students from partner universities who received awards for developing the ProAgro Lectures platform. These young researchers drew on current scientific knowledge accumulated on PhosAgro's digital educational platform in their work, and also prepared and recorded educational content for it.

"I'm a zootechnician, and the PhosAgro laboratory at my wonderful alma mater was a significant help. It was there that I learned about ProAgro Lectures and began actively using the platform. It helps organize and, in some ways, complement the knowledge we gain at the academy. I'm still taking PhosAgro's online courses and would like to highlight not only the quality of the material but also the user-friendly interface and content structure—this makes life much easier for students. Once again, I thank both PhosAgro and my academy for striving to give us young people the best possible start in their careers!" commented Anna Ungefug, a first-year master's student in the Faculty of Animal Science and Agribusiness at the K.I. Skryabin MBA.

"ProAgro Lecture Hall is a unique platform that connects cutting-edge science and real-world agricultural production practices. This is a significant contribution to addressing global food security issues, because access to the most up-to-date knowledge will enable us to produce more high-quality agricultural products," noted Benjamin Yennouna Konyannik, a second-year Master's student in the Faculty of General Agronomy at the Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia.

PhosAgro also presented commemorative awards for their active participation in developing scientific and educational cooperation between Russia and the BRICS countries and training qualified personnel to the rectors of partner universities: Vladimir Trukhachev, Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K.A. Timiryazev; Sergey Pozyabin, MBA named after K.I. Skryabin; Sergey Filatov, Russian Chemical Technology University named after D.I. Mendeleyev; Oleg Yastrebov, Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia; Nikolai Malkov, Vologda State Dairy Farming Academy named after N.V. Vereshchagin; Stanislav Aleinik, Belgorod State Agrarian University named after V.Ya. Gorin; and Maxim Zalyvsky, Russian-African Network University (RAFU).

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.