Global research and educational initiatives

2 Zero hunger

PhosAgro carries out joint agricultural research with leading Russian and foreign educational and research institutions (University of Milan, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Wageningen University and Rothamsted Research) to study the properties of mineral fertilizers and ways to make their use more efficient in order to produce enough healthy food for the planet’s growing population, preserve soil fertility and purity, boost yields and ensure stable agricultural production in a high-risk farming environment. The research results are used to provide recommendations for the efficient and safe application of mineral fertilizers.

The Company shares them with farmers in Brazil, Serbia, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, France, Germany, Italy and other countries as part of joint meetings, presentations, demonstrations at local field days, exhibitions and international conferences on preservation of soil fertility, and through publications in industry and trade media and reports.

4 Quality education

The Company has built strong partnerships with mining universities in St Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Magnitogorsk and Apatity, and chemistry universities in Ivanovo and Cherepovets based on bilateral agreements on internships, scholarships for the best students, and the High-Potential Graduates programme.

As part of the PhosAgro College initiative, we provide targeted funding to technical colleges to enhance their research base (new equipment, educational programmes, VR capabilities, building renovations), establish incentives for teachers and students, offer career guidance to school students and promote enrollment in the Murmansk Arctic State University in Kirovsk and the Cherepovets College of Chemistry and Technology.

In cooperation with the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), PhosAgro supports the participation of young scientists from developing economies in Summer Schools on Green Chemistry. In 2018, 80 young scholars and 20 world-class teachers from 40 countries took part in the IUPAC Summer School at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. In the same year, the Company provided scholarships to 15 young researches from developing economies. The project held its second Summer School on Green Chemistry on 12–19 May 2019 at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Part of the Company’s contribution was used to fund grants to talented young scientists from Africa.

17 Partnerships for the goals

On 6 February 2019, PhosAgro joined the Global Compact Network Russia. Since January 2019, the Company has been taking part in the two platforms promoting responsible business and eliminating issues that arise when implementing the global goals – Business Reporting on the SDGs and Health is Everyone’s Business. In September 2019, PhosAgro was included in the LEAD, a group of Global Compact participants that have achieved the best results in corporate social responsibility.

In order to support young scientists doing research in line with the 12 Princliples of Green Chemistry, PhosAgro implements the Green Chemistry for Life project in cooperation with UNESCO and IUPAC.

The Company is also an active member of the Safer Phosphates alliance, whose mission is to share knowledge and address concerns about heavy metals that are present in some phosphate-based fertilizers.