Foreword EkoNiva News Edition No. 80

Stefan Dürr: "Sugar, like milk, must be affordable for all"

When EkoNiva started its agricultural business 20 years ago, it did not intend to engage in dairy farming. However, it was milk production that ultimately made the company successful.

This year, we have launched a sugar plant in Kursk oblast, even though we did not plan any sugar business. I do not think we will be the world’s third largest sugar producer but, after all, we never know what is in store for us.

EkoNiva has made its first steps in the sugar industry, and I can see significant potential for further development.

Over the past decades, beet sugar production has become extremely high‑tech and cost‑effective with new hybrids, machinery and plant growing practices, which made it possible to successfully compete with cane sugar pricewise. The year 2023 has seen rapid development of the Russian sugar export within the CIS countries. I am confident that soon it will expand beyond the CIS area.

It is especially important for us to keep affordable prices for sugar. Today, sugar cost makes up no more than 2% of the market basket, and our goal is to keep it at this level.

Sugar beet processing gives EkoNiva additional benefits, allowing us to diversify the crop rotation and use waste products, such as pulp and molasses, as cattle feed. The sugar plant we have launched operates well. Next steps will be technology upgrading and production expansion.

We have all it takes to succeed: the fields, the crops, the processing facility and, most importantly, the people who love their job and know how to produce high‑quality sugar affordable for everyone.

Stefan Dürr, EkoNiva Group President