Programme

Rapid population growth remains one of the key issues on the global economic agenda. According to the Department of Economic and Social Affairs under the UN Secretariat, the world’s population will reach 8.5 billion by 2030. This in turn will lead to growing demand for food products, which producers will need to satisfy in the face of climate change, dwindling natural resources, and the large-scale spread of infectious plant diseases. These challenges can also provide an impetus for the development of new technologies in farming, improving soil fertility, and bringing food production to a new level, where food is safe and nutritious. What are the factors that will determine the planet’s food security over the coming years? Are the key players in the agricultural market ready to face fundamental technological and investment challenges? What could help to meet the growing demand?

Moderator
Charlotte Hebebrand, Director General, International Fertilizer Association (IFA)

Charlotte Hebebrand

Director General, International Fertilizer Association (IFA)

Prior to joining IFA, Ms Hebebrand served as Chief Executive of the Washington DC based International Food & Agricultural Trade Policy Council (IPC) from February 2006 until July 2012. In that capacity, she led the efforts of IPC members - a diverse mix of distinguished international agricultural trade experts from around
the world - to promote a more open, equitable and sustainable global food system.
Ms Hebebrand has also worked with the European Commission, serving as Special Advisor on international development, trade, agriculture and food safety issues in its Washington delegation, and with the Brookings Institution's Foreign Policy Division.

Panellists
Theo de Jager, President, World Farmers' Organisation (WFO)
Dmitry Konyaev, Chief Executive Officer, URALCHEM JSC
Vadim Moshkovich, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Rusagro
Yves Picquet, Head of CropScience Division for Russia and CIS, Bayer
Sergey Sidorsky, Member of the Eurasian Economic Commission Board (Minister) in Charge of Industry and Agroindustrial Complex; Doctor of Technical Sciences, Honorary Professor, Belarusian State University of Transport
Achim Steiner, Administrator, The United Nations Development Programme

Theo de Jager

President, World Farmers' Organisation (WFO)

Dr. De Jager is president of the World Farmers’ Organisation and of the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU) and was president of the Pan African Farmers Union (PAFO) 2014-2017. He is also chairman of the board of Agri All Africa, a board member of FANRPAN and serves on the board of Agri Limpopo, where he is responsible for land reform, transformation, farmer development and Africa Liaison since 2004.
He has farmed in South Africa since 1997 (in the South African Lowveld region) with timber and subtropical fruits (avocados, mangoes and macadamia nuts) and also keeps goats.

Dmitry Konyaev

Chief Executive Officer, URALCHEM JSC

Director General of OJSC United Chemical Company Uralchem, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Committee on mineral fertilizer production and market.
Born in 1971. Graduate of Moscow State University (Department of Economics), California State University Hayward (MBA). From 1998 held a number of senior management positions in Sederrot International AB, Mineral Trading, UralKali Trading SA (Singapore). From 2007 to 2011 held the position of Commercial Director of Uralchem. Since 2011 appointed Chief Executive Officer of Uralchem. Member of the Uralchem Board of Directors since 2007. The Head of the Committee on communication and public relations of IFA (International Fertilizer Association).

Vadim Moshkovich

Chairman of the Board of Directors, Rusagro

Education
1992 - Moscow Institute of Radio Engineering, Electronics and Automation (MIREA).
Professional experience
In 1992, started his career in agribusiness.
In 2004, Rusagro company was founded. It became one of the largest vertically integrated agriculture industry holding companies in Russia.
In 2011, Rosagro Plc. (the parent company of the Rusagro Group holding) undertook an IPO on the London Stock Exchange which attracted around $300 million for their projects.
In 2016, it made a SPO. Currently Vadim Moshkovich controls 75% of company shares.
From 2006 to 2014, he was a member of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation representing the Belgorod Oblast Duma and was a member of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy.
He was the owner of Masshtab company, one of the major developers of the New Moscow (territories that became part of Moscow in July 2012). The company owns over 2,580 hectares in the New Moscow. In 2015 the company was sold.
Since 2014 he has been the President and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Rusagro Group (Moscow).
He has the following state awards:
Medal of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation;
Medal 'In Commemoration of the 300th Anniversary of Saint Petersburg'
Medal 'Merit for the Land of Belgorod', I degree.
About the Company
Rusagro Group is the largest vertically integrated agriculture industry holding company in Russia. At the present time it occupies the leading positions in sugar, pork, crop, oil and fats production. Land bank of the Group consists of more than 600 thousand hectares. In 2015 a number of investment banks named Rusagro Group one of the most profitable and fastest growing consumer segment companies in the CIS. Company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and on the Moscow Stock Exchange.
The main assets of Rusagro Group are located in Belgorod oblast, Tambov oblast, Sverdlovsk oblast, Voronezh oblast, Samara oblast, Kursk oblast and Orlov oblast, as well as in Primorskiy krai, which allows to diversify business regionally. Headquarters of the holding is located in Moscow.
Modern world technologies are integrated in all business divisions of the Group in terms of equipment as well as in terms of management practices.
Geography of Rusagro sales is constantly growing. Currently the Company sells products in over 80 regions of Russia and over 15 countries.
Charity projects
He sponsors creation of a school for gifted children in Kommunarka (New Moscow). The school plans to attract best teachers and will be able to provide comprehensive education and development for gifted children. The school will open its doors in September 2018.
He is a donor and a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Research University – Higher School of Economics (HSE) in Moscow and the Belgorod National Research University, the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Centre in Moscow.

Yves Picquet

Head of CropScience Division for Russia and CIS, Bayer

Yves Picquet was born in Brussels and graduated from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium, where he received a degree in agriculture, and another in production management.
Mr. Picquet started his agriculture career in a distribution company, where he was responsible for one of the regions of Belgium. From 1996 to 1998, he worked at DuPont, where he managed marketing and sales functions in the French-speaking part of Belgium. In 1998 he joined Rhone-Poulenc as a sales director. Two years later, a merger led to the creation of a new company, Aventis CropScience, where Yves Picquet became head of the same department. In 2002 Yves Picquet joined Bayer as a sales manager, and later also became a manager of the logistics department. From 2009 to 2012 he was a head of the Bayer CropScience in Romania. In 2012 he was assigned as the director of Crop Science in the CIS countries: Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Since 2017, Yves Picquet has been responsible for the development of the Crop Science division in Russia and the CIS.

Sergey Sidorsky

Member of the Eurasian Economic Commission Board (Minister) in Charge of Industry and Agroindustrial Complex; Doctor of Technical Sciences, Honorary Professor, Belarusian State University of Transport

Sergey Sidorskiy was born on March 13, 1954 in Gomel.
In 1976 he graduated from the electrical and technical department of the Belarus institute of railway transport engineers. He progressed from assembly unit senior operator to the managing head of a major radio and machinery manufacturing enterprise. He worked as a first deputy to the President of the Gomel Party Executive Committee on the Economy and Industrial and Energy complex. From 2011 to 2002 he was the First Vice Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus. From 2002 to 2003 he was the First Vice Prime Minister of the republic of Belarus and acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus. From 2003 to 2010 he was Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus . Since February 1, 2012, Sergey Sidorskiy has been in charge of industrial and agricultural policy supervision in the EEU, occupying the post of Member of the Board – Minister in charge of Industry and Agroindustrial Complex.
Sergey Sidorskiy is a Doctor of Technical Sciences, Academician of the International Academy of Engineering, Professor Emeritus of the Belarus State University of Transport, Honored Worker of Industry of Belarus. He is the author of more than 40 scientific papers. Speaks German.

Achim Steiner

Administrator, The United Nations Development Programme

Achim Steiner became UNDP Administrator on 19 June 2017 and will serve for a term of four years. The United Nations General Assembly confirmed his nomination on 19 April 2017, following his nomination by Secretary-General António Guterres.
Mr. Steiner is also the Vice-Chair of the UN Development Group, which unites the 32 UN funds, programmes, specialized agencies and other bodies that work to support sustainable development.
Over nearly three decades, Achim Steiner has been a global leader on sustainable development, climate resilience and international cooperation. He has worked tirelessly to champion sustainability, economic growth and equality for the vulnerable, and has been a vocal advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals.
Prior to joining UNDP, he was Director of the Oxford Martin School and Professorial Fellow of Balliol College, University of Oxford. Mr Steiner has served across the United Nations system, looking at global challenges from both a humanitarian and a development perspective. He led the United Nations Environment Programme (2006-2016), helping governments invest in clean technologies and renewable energy. He was also Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi. Achim Steiner previously held other notable positions including Director General of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and Secretary General of the World Commission on Dams.
Achim Steiner has lived and worked in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Latin America and the United States. He graduated in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (MA) from Worcester College, Oxford University and holds an MA from the University of London/School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).

Front row participant
Victoria Krisko, Managing Director, FOODBANK RUS

Victoria Krisko

Managing Director, FOODBANK RUS

Alumna of Moscow State Institute of Electronics and Mathematics, specializing in Applied Mathematics.
Viktoria Krisko has over 20 years’ experience in sales and marketing both in Russia and overseas and has worked for such companies as Johnson&Johnson, Schwazkopf & Henkel, Procter & Gamble, Microsoft and Nokia.
Apart from her day job, Viktoria has taken part in multiple social projects. She found out about Russia’s first food bank, which involved volunteers packing food to give to those in need. Together with other volunteers, Viktoria packed grits and cereal at the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent and truly enjoyed being part of such a special project. For over a month, she donated food packages to retirees and low-income families.
At the same time, Viktoria was looking for a job. A recruiting agency offered her a position at the food bank where she was volunteering. With the blessing of Archbishop Panteleimon, Viktoria joined Rus Food Fund as its Managing Director. She believes it is not just a new job, but an opportunity to help people in difficulties.