According to an announcement made at the Golden Autumn agricultural exhibition, RusAg will launch Organica, a foundation to promote the philosophy of organic consumption, develop organic agriculture and support Russian organic producers. According to a RusAg study, every tenth Russian will be consuming organic food by 2025.
The foundation will be supported by RusAg, other stockholders, international organizations, philanthropists and educational institutions. Its focus will be on the comprehensive development and export of organic products, while one of its key objectives will be to promote organic products among multiple target audiences.
‘We are one of the largest banks, and it is our key objective to improve the well-being and health of the Russian people. Organic products are now being consumed by only 1% of Russians, but we expect this figure to go up to 10% by 2025. On top of that, green production has a strong export potential. We are now exporting only EUR 20 million worth of organic products, but with the right approach it could be dozens of times more in 2025. The Organica Foundation will help realize this potential and take organic consumption in Russia to a new level,’ said Boris Listov, RusAg’s Chairman of the Board and CEO.
Russia’s organic market has a great import substitution and export potential. RusAg estimates it at RUB 10 billion, compared to the global organic market of about USD 100 billion.
The Foundation will be financing programmes and projects to support organic producers, facilitate sponsorship, promote and enhance positive public attitude towards organic producers and to work with federal and regional state authorities to deliver government policy in organic production regulation.
‘We have spent 21 years developing agribusiness and have built unique expertise which we are willing to share with organic producers with regard to multiple issues, including how to penetrate global markets, identify partners and establish regional brands to be able to successfully promote organic products,’ added Boris Listov.