Business programme

Agribusiness is a fundamental sector of the Russian economy that not only works to ensure the country’s food security, but also provides a large amount of raw agricultural materials and food to the global market. However, even in 2023, Russia remains highly dependent on foreign means of production for agribusiness, such as biotechnological developments, planting materials, genetics for livestock production, and other technologies. For some positions, imports of foreign technologies are as high as 100%. This situation is an Achilles’ heel in ensuring the country’s global competitiveness and the independence of the entire industry. This is why strengthening technological sovereignty in agribusiness is one of the priorities of the state’s policy as well as agricultural research centres, universities, and leading agricultural holdings. Technological sovereignty in agribusiness: where is the weak spot? What agribusiness technologies have the potential to be replaced in Russia? What role could the development of a talent pool play in boosting technological independence in agribusiness? How can science, government, and business enhance collaboration to create new technologies? What is the best way to establish cooperation in breeding and genetics?

Moderator
Natalya Popova, First Deputy General Director, Innopraktika

Natalya Popova

First Deputy General Director, Innopraktika

Natalia Popova, First Deputy СEO of the Non-State Development Institute “Innopraktika”, President of Vision Media Center LLC, graduated from Finance Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation and the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Area Studies of Moscow State University. Natalia is a member of the Boards of Directors of ITECMA LLC, VEB Ventures LLC, also the Supervisory Boards of the INTC Composite Valley Foundation and MSP Bank JSC, as well as the Board of Trustees of the School Unit of the “Phystech XXI” cluster and the autonomous non-profit educational organization “Phystech-lyceum” named after P.L. Kapitsa. In addition, she is the chairman of the board of directors of IAC OJSC, the co-chairman of the Coordinating Council for the introduction of innovative Russian products into the production and economic activities of Gazprom. Natalia is a member of the Council for the Implementation of the Federal Scientific and Technical Program for the Development of Agriculture for 2017-2025; the working group which provide support to small and medium businesses in high-tech sectors of the economy, including those introducing innovations, implementing projects in the field of import substitution and (or) producing export products and services; to the Expert council for the development of financial instruments and non-financial measures to support enterprises of Russia's defense industry under the Commission of the State Duma on legal support for the development of organizations in the defense industry of Russia. Natalia is the originator and the host of Innopraktika media projects, including such projects as “Dom uchenyh” (lit.: The House of Scientists) in cooperation with “Kultura” TV channel, “Nauka” (lit.: Science) in cooperation with “Russia-24” TV channel, also a member of the committee for preparation and implementation of the global project "Russian Seasons". Since December 2019, Natalia Popova has been holding the position of the Ombudsman representing interests of high-tech leading companies, established on the Commissioner for Entrepreneurs' Rights at the President of the Russian Federation institution basis.

Panellists
Elena Baturova, Director of the Center for the Development of Financial Technologies, Russian Agricultural Bank
Alexander Dvoinykh, Chairman of the Committee of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Agriculture and Food Policy and Environmental Management
Dmitry Konyaev, General Director, URALCHEM
Vitaly Korolev, Deputy Head, Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation
Andrey Omelchuk, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation
Mikhail Sterkin, Deputy General Director for Sales, Marketing and Logistics, PhosAgro

Elena Baturova

Director of the Center for the Development of Financial Technologies, Russian Agricultural Bank

Alexander Dvoinykh

Chairman of the Committee of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Agriculture and Food Policy and Environmental Management

Dmitry Konyaev

General Director, URALCHEM

Born in 1971, Mr Dmitry Konyaev graduated from Lomonosov Moscow State University (Department of Economics), and he holds an MBA in Marketing from California State University Hayward.
Starting in 1998, he held a number of senior executive positions with major production and trading companies, including Sederrot International AB, Mineral Trading, Uralkali Trading SA (Singapore). In 2007-2011 he was the Commercial Director at URALCHEM. From 2011 to 2018, Mr Konyaev was the Chief Executive Officer at URALCHEM and a member of the Board of Directors at URALCHEM. Since 2018 – Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors at URALCHEM.
With almost two decades of expertise in the mineral fertilizers industry and a proven track record, Mr Konyaev is a member of Executive Board at IFA (International Fertilizer Association) and routinely named among the Russia’s «Top-1000 executives» by the Russian Managers Association.
Mr Konyaev is also a member of the Board of Directors of JSC Voskresensk Mineral Fertilizers and is the Chairman of the Board of JSC «HaloPolymer» and SIA Riga Fertilizer Terminal.

Vitaly Korolev

Deputy Head, Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation

Born June 23, 1980 in Krasnoyarsk.
Education:
Has degrees in law and economics and CSc.
Professional experience:
2001–2002: worked for Krasnoyarsknefteproduct
2002–2005: worked for Krasnoyarskenergo
2005: joined the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS)
2008: head of the FAS Energy Control Department
2015: deputy head of the FAS
Awarded honorary certificates of the FAS in 2006 and 2010 and official letters of recognition in 2008 and 2009 for significant contributions to the development of state policies promoting fair competition.
2009: awarded an honorary certificate from the association of small and medium-sized businesses OPORA ROSSII for significant contributions to the development of small and medium-sized businesses.
2012: awarded the title Honorary Worker of the Antimonopoly Services
2014: awarded the title of Honorary Worker of the Energy Sector
2015: awarded an Official Letter of Gratitude from the President of the Russian Federation.

Andrey Omelchuk

Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation

Mikhail Sterkin

Deputy General Director for Sales, Marketing and Logistics, PhosAgro