"Leader of the Year - 2022": the oldest university in the country, the best cottage cheese and sour-milk drinks

The Expert Council of the International Business Prize got acquainted with the nominees from the Goretsky district of the Mogilev region.

Experts of the International Business Award "Leader of the Year - 2022" go to the new nominees. This time in Gorki - a small regional center of the Mogilev region. Here we will get acquainted with the work of the Belarusian State Agricultural Academy, evaluate the products of Molochny Gorki OJSC, and also taste the unique Exponenta high-protein drink, which has already become popular, which is produced at the production site of the Gorki Food Plant FLLC.

Focus on practice and comfort for students - all about the agricultural academy

The Belarusian State Agricultural Academy was founded back in 1840, which makes the institution of higher education the oldest in the Belarusian lands, not only in the agricultural, but also in the general education sector. The Academy was founded by decree of the Russian Emperor Nicholas I. Since then, more than 110 thousand people have become its graduates. Among the eminent students who have completed the academic course are the heads of ministries, large enterprises, and the vertical of power. The current HEAD of the Republic of Belarus ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO also successfully graduated from the Academy .

“Today we are rightfully the country's leading university in our field,” says Vitaly Velikanov, rector of the Belarusian State Agricultural Academy. - We study all agricultural specialties, with the possible exception of veterinary medicine. Today BSAA has 10 faculties, on the basis of which 44 departments function. In total, the university trains specialists in three areas: biological, engineering and economics.

The academy pays great attention to the practical development and consolidation of skills by students. For example, conducting product research, studying the design of technology. Teachers and students, together with leading Belarusian scientists, develop new varieties of crops, innovative solutions for domestic equipment, which are subsequently introduced into mass production.

– We have our own educational farm with a unique farm, more than 250 hectares of experimental fields, and a training fishing complex. On the basis of the academy there is a laboratory in which the technology of precision farming is being studied. Its application allows you to change the traditional approaches to agricultural work. The technology makes it possible to increase efficiency and productivity at each stage of work, optimize the amount of applied materials and, accordingly, reduce costs and increase yields. In addition, a branch of the seed bank was created on the basis of the academy.

The rector considers it fundamental that all BSAA graduates become in-demand specialists in the domestic labor market. And the university itself receives many awards: for example, in 2021 it became the winner of the Prize of the Government of the Republic of Belarus in the field of quality and was listed on the regional Board of Honor.

“Our graduates work not only in the agricultural sector, but also in other areas of the country's national economy,” added Vitaly Velikanov.

Today, about 10 thousand students study at the BSAA, including representatives of 20 states. Absolutely all applicants for a diploma are provided with places in hostels.

“We try to create the best conditions for students. At their service are the Palace of Culture, a sports and recreation complex, their own dining room and many other social and household facilities. This is a very important aspect, since the solution of social problems helps students to fully concentrate on the educational process, - concluded Vitaly Velikanov.

Loose cottage cheese and premium cheeses: what surprised MILK Hills

The Gorki region is also famous for its dairy production. Among the flagships is OJSC "Milk Gorki". Today, the enterprise is considered a city-forming enterprise. About 500 people work here. A new milestone in its development has been counted since 2013, when a significant modernization of capacities began here.

“Renovation work allowed the enterprise to reach a completely new quality level,” says Vitaly Zlobin, DIRECTOR of Molochnye Gorki OJSC. - Over this period, the increase in profits increased almost 6 times, which indicates the success of modernization as such.

Today JSC "Milk Gorki" is one of the leaders in the dairy industry of the Mogilev region. Modern equipment and quality systems, the use of its own resources allowed the company to gain a foothold not only in the Belarusian, but also in foreign markets. The assortment includes more than 60 items of products, ranging from milk to a cheese line.

“Success is achieved, among other things, due to modern equipment, which allows creating a line of popular dairy products,” added Vitaly Zlobin.

In 2019, JSC Molochny Gorki modernized the line for the production of crumbly cottage cheese.

– This is quite an exclusive technology for Belarus. A year later, we reached full capacity. Today we have a fairly large network of sales and sales of these products. Cottage cheese has good organoleptic qualities, shelf life. Today we supply a useful product not only to the Belarusian market - the quality of cottage cheese was also appreciated in the Russian Federation. Recently, a new direction has been opened in Kazakhstan. We also supply small lots to Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia.

Among other things, in the near future a significant modernization will be carried out at the cheese-making production. The latest equipment has already been purchased. Construction work will start soon.

– We will produce classic semi-hard and a line of hard cheeses. There are plans to install a slicing line in order to master the production of high value-added products and satisfy the needs of buyers, - the source notes.

Comfortable working conditions have been created at Molochny Gorki JSC. The average salary is higher than the regional one and corresponds to the regional indicator. Every year the enterprise is replenished with new personnel - graduates of various Belarusian educational institutions.

– We have established the retention of young professionals, we are successfully developing ties with domestic colleges and universities. For our employees, we try and provide comfortable working conditions and good wages. There is a system of motivation. Today, the figure is just over 1.3 thousand rubles, which corresponds to the average figure for the Mogilev region, - said Vitaly Zlobin.

EXPONENTA is a modern healthy lifestyle brand of high-protein fermented milk drinks without added SUGAR. Recommended to everyone who takes care of themselves!

IOOO "Goretsky food plant" has been known since 2013, when the company's technologists began working on the creation of high-protein raw materials from whey, that is, a completely new product line. The site was equipped with modern equipment, as well as the latest high-tech developments in the dairy industry have been introduced and are being put into practice.

– Time has confirmed that the idea was a success. Thus, in 2019, goods under the EXPONENTA brand, already beloved by many Belarusians, appeared on domestic shelves, - explains Tatyana Pavlova, director of the Gorki Food Plant IOOO.

In simple terms, these are sour-milk low-fat drinks, in which there is a high protein content with various flavors, ranging from strawberries to coconut. The production of a tasty and healthy product takes place in several stages. First, milk comes from various farms in the country .

– Raw materials must be sent to laboratory control to ensure their quality. Further, the process of milk coagulation takes place on the equipment, after which the whey undergoes a multi-stage purification process. After the fat-free product is pasteurized, - explains the head of the enterprise.

Then the raw material goes through several more production stages, after which the output is a high-protein and healthy product that is rich in essential amino acids and vitamin groups. Today, EXPONENTA is available in three convenient packaging formats: in an innovative glass with a unique drop-shaped plate for easy consumption on the go with a capacity of 250 grams with a protein content of 30 grams (HIGH PRO brand), in a bottle of 100 grams (EXPONENTA IMMUNO SHOT brand with a protein content of 12 grams), as well as under the EXPONENTA brand BIO-SKYR is available in a cardboard box with a convenient lid for multiple consumption, with a capacity of 500 grams.

– At the moment, the main markets for these products are Belarus and the Russian Federation. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are somewhat behind in terms of volumes. Exports account for about 45% of the total sales, - says Tatyana Pavlova.

The capacities of the enterprise allow to produce about 430 tons of EXPONENTA HIGH PRO monthly. Products are designed for absolutely all age categories, regardless of the social status of the consumer.

- When we first launched products under this brand, a certain stereotype formed among our regular customers: EXPONENTA - only for a narrow circle, for example, athletes who constantly need to replenish their body with protein. Then we decided to conduct several studies and proved that the products are useful for everyone.

In the spring of this year, the company's management conducted specific clinical trials at one of the Belarusian universities, as a result of which the benefits of using EXPONENTA after a CORONAVIRUS infection were proven. The studies were conducted in the age group from 50 to 63 years.

- This once again speaks of the high quality of products and their real benefits, - added Tatyana Pavlova.

The plans for the coming years include the maximum utilization of production capacities, as well as the development of new flavors.

– We have experimented more than once, and the consumer liked the innovations. Just a few weeks ago, EXPONENTA with the taste of salted caramel appeared on the shelves of stores. Reviews are positive. But in winter, we produced products with the taste of gingerbread, which was also highly appreciated by consumers, Tatyana Pavlova concluded.

Expert from the Russian Federation: "We need to look for common ground"

During the visit, Andrey Dudkin, head of the representative office of the Nizhny Novgorod region in Belarus, noted the high potential of the Gorki region as a whole.

– We got very positive emotions. We started our visit from the Belarusian State Agricultural Academy. Of course, its scope is admirable. We see a great potential for interaction and cooperation between the academy and higher educational institutions of the agro-industrial orientation of the Nizhny Novgorod region. Among other things, there are obvious prospects in terms of retraining specialists with higher education.

As for dairy enterprises, Andrey Dudkin emphasized that the country's food industry shows a high class. Belarusian products, primarily dairy products, are among the most loved and in demand on the shelves of Russian stores.

But we have a few wishes. Recently, product packaging has become more unified. We believe that something like a national brand should be applied to it. For example, the badge "Made in Belarus". Such a small remark will make the product even more in demand.

According to Andrey Dudkin, the potential for cooperation between the dairy enterprises of the Goretsky District and the Nizhny Novgorod Region is "practically limitless."

We need to find common ground. And, most importantly, there should be a unified strategy for promoting Belarusian products. On my own behalf, I can say that the first contacts on possible deliveries have already taken place, - Andrey Dudkin noted.

Permanent expert: "Leader of the Year award helps to establish commercial relations"

The Belarusian State Agricultural Academy has been and remains a leader in the field of agricultural education in Belarus. This opinion was expressed by a member of the expert council of the International Business Award "Leader of the Year - 2022", a deputy of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly Piotr Vabishchevich.

- The academy has created a powerful educational base, which allows you to get a high-quality and, importantly, relevant education in our country. We have seen that education is not only academic. Students are constantly engaged practically both on the basis of the university and at the enterprises of the country.

Also, Petr Vabishchevich noted the excellent conditions for students to live.

- Absolutely all future specialists are provided with places in hostels. A powerful social base has been created. There is a house of culture, a sports and recreation complex. Not every educational institution can boast of such a set. In fact, this is a city within a city where you can get all the educational and other necessary services.

According to Petr Vabishchevich, it is important that today the leadership of the academy is trying to increase international relations with higher educational institutions of other countries.

– First of all, with the Russian Federation. It is gratifying that the university is moving in the right direction, trying to develop and introduce new technologies in teaching and practice.

The Chairman of the Expert Council highly appreciated the activities of dairy enterprises.

- I was pleasantly surprised. Both "Milk Gorki" and "Goretsky Food Processing Plant" show the highest quality of products - that's right, in superlatives. I would like to note that production has been almost completely modernized, and enterprises have occupied their niche both in the Belarusian and foreign markets. The experience of the specialists of the food plant is very interesting, who were able to make such a high-quality product from whey, which was previously considered a waste of production.

The Chairman of the Expert Council of the International Business Award "Leader of the Year - 2022" also spoke about the course of the event.

– It is important to understand that we do not come to enterprises with inspections. In fact, this is a kind of round table, a working meeting, during which partnerships are established, including with Russian colleagues. And such meetings have already proven their effectiveness more than once, - Piotr Vabishchevich assured.

Alexander NOVOKHROST