EuroChem executive highlights rising agronomic expertise amid climate-driven risks in Russian agriculture

Weather and climatic conditions have become one of the most significant challenges facing Russia’s agricultural sector, increasing production risks and forcing farmers to adopt more sophisticated crop nutrition strategies, according to Sergey Mikhailov, Commercial Director at EuroChem.

In an interview with Kommersant, Mikhailov said the nature of weather-related risks has changed markedly in recent years. Rather than isolated events, farmers are now dealing with a succession of stress factors throughout the growing season.

“The defining characteristic of recent years is the alternating succession of stress factors,” Mikhailov said. “While in 2024 the primary threat was late spring frosts, which affected nearly the entire European part of Russia, in 2025 farmers were confronted with droughts and precipitation deficits. Now, extreme weather events can strike at any moment throughout the entire growing season.”

The impact of these conditions has already been visible during the 2026 spring sowing campaign. According to Mikhailov, excessive soil moisture in parts of the Penza region resulted in losses of winter crops, while sowing operations in Voronezh were delayed by three to four weeks and planting in the Tula region lagged by approximately two weeks.

Such disruptions increase uncertainty for producers and place greater emphasis on maximizing crop resilience through improved nutrient management.

Agronomic knowledge becomes a competitive advantage

As weather volatility intensifies, practical agronomic expertise is becoming increasingly important for agricultural producers seeking to protect yields and optimize fertilizer investments.

Mikhailov said effective fertilizer programs begin with comprehensive agrochemical soil analysis, allowing farmers to develop crop-specific nutrition plans tailored to local conditions and production goals. New products and application strategies are also subjected to extensive field trials before broader commercial deployment.

EuroChem has expanded its efforts to provide technical support and agronomic guidance to customers through a combination of traditional advisory services and digital communication channels.

The company offers agrochemical services, consultations, field meetings, and educational programs designed to help growers adapt to changing environmental conditions.

“The challenge of the current era is multichannel communication,” Mikhailov said. “We need to be wherever it is most convenient for the user.”

To broaden access to agronomic information, EuroChem has increased its presence on digital platforms including Max, Zen, and VK Video. The company has also revived email newsletters and converted educational webinars into podcast formats, enabling agronomists and farm managers to access technical content while traveling between fields.

Building a global agronomic knowledge platform

EuroChem is also developing a new digital knowledge system intended to consolidate expertise from the company’s agronomy specialists worldwide.

According to Mikhailov, the platform will include a centralized database supported by a recommendation engine designed to provide users with practical guidance and easy access to technical information.

The company expects the system to become available later this year, representing another step toward integrating digital technologies into agronomic decision-making.

The initiative reflects a broader industry trend toward precision agriculture and data-driven crop management as producers face increasingly complex production environments.

Demand rises for sulfur and specialty fertilizers

Climate-related pressures are also influencing fertilizer purchasing patterns, driving stronger demand for specialized nutrient products.

Mikhailov said foliar feeding programs using water-soluble fertilizers are becoming increasingly popular as growers seek flexible methods to address crop stress and nutrient deficiencies during the season.

Demand for sulfur-containing fertilizers has also grown significantly. According to EuroChem, sulfur deficiencies are becoming more common in agricultural soils, while market demand continues to increase for crops that require substantial sulfur nutrition.

In Russia’s Central Federal District, maintaining optimal soil pH remains a major concern, contributing to demand for physiologically neutral products such as calcium ammonium nitrate.

“With each passing year, foliar feeding applied using water-soluble fertilizers is gaining popularity,” Mikhailov said. “We are also observing widespread high demand for sulfur-containing fertilizer grades.”

Niche products move toward the mainstream

Looking ahead, Mikhailov expects specialty fertilizer categories that were once considered niche products to gain broader adoption across Russian agriculture.

EuroChem recently introduced a fast-dissolving granular NPK fertilizer designed for regions experiencing moisture deficits, where rapid nutrient availability can be particularly important.

The company also expects growing demand for its sulfur-containing phosphorus fertilizer NP(S) 12-40(10), which was introduced to the Russian market last year. The product is positioned to address sulfur deficiencies while supplying phosphorus nutrition in a single application.

In addition, EuroChem has begun domestic production of a water-soluble nitrogen-potassium fertilizer that was previously imported into Russia. The fertilizer is intended for greenhouse production systems and irrigation applications and is now being manufactured at the company’s EuroChem Severny Kavkaz facility in Nevinnomyssk.

According to Mikhailov, these developments reflect a broader shift in the fertilizer market, where growers increasingly seek products tailored to specific agronomic challenges rather than relying solely on traditional commodity nutrient grades.

As climate volatility continues to influence crop production decisions, demand for technical expertise, precision nutrient management, and specialized fertilizers is expected to remain a key growth driver for the industry.