Belarus and North Ossetia Strengthen Agricultural Ties: Focus on Food Exports, Livestock Breeding, and Scientific Collaboration
MINSK – Belarus and Russia’s Republic of North Ossetia-Alania have outlined ambitious plans to deepen agricultural cooperation, focusing on boosting food supplies, expanding exports of premixes and mixed fodder, enhancing livestock breeding, and improving personnel training in the agricultural sector. The discussions took place during a high-level meeting between North Ossetian Head Sergei Menyailo and officials from Belarus’ Ministry of Agriculture and Food, as reported by BelTA.
The talks underscored Belarus’ commitment to scaling up collaboration with North Ossetia in the agro-industrial sector. While official statistics indicate a slight decline in mutual trade last year, Belarusian products remain widely available in North Ossetia, prominently featured in federal chain stores and local retail outlets. Aleksandr Lomsky, Belarusian First Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister, emphasized the shared goal of increasing mutual supplies and diversifying bilateral agricultural relations.
Expanding Food Exports and BNBC Products
Belarus proposed ramping up exports of food products, including meat and dairy, to North Ossetia. The country’s diverse range of high-quality goods has already gained a foothold in the region, with significant potential for further growth. Additionally, the Belarusian National Biotechnology Corporation (BNBC) is poised to play a key role in the partnership. The corporation, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, produces essential amino acids, premixes, and mixed fodder for various farm animals.
In 2023, BNBC produced 96,000 tonnes of mixed fodder, including 64,000 tonnes for cattle, 11,000 tonnes for pigs, poultry, and fish, as well as 10,000 tonnes of premixes and 59,000 tonnes of amino acids. Most of these products are exported to Russia through a distributor. “We hope the agreements reached today will lead to a steady increase in BNBC’s exports to North Ossetia,” Lomsky stated.
Livestock Breeding and Scientific Collaboration
North Ossetia was invited to explore cooperation in livestock breeding, with Belarus offering high-value biomaterial from bulls of dairy and meat breeds. The Belplemzhivobyedinenie livestock farm and its affiliates highlighted breeds such as Holstein, Simmental, Belgian Blue, Hereford, and Limousin as particularly valuable for potential partnerships.
Belarus also showcased its agricultural universities’ scientific potential, which includes not only training but also retraining personnel across a wide range of agricultural specialties. This initiative aims to address the growing demand for skilled professionals in the sector.
North Ossetia’s Proposals: Aquaculture, Horticulture, and Beyond
Sergei Menyailo, Head of North Ossetia, presented several proposals to strengthen agricultural ties with Belarus. The region, which accounts for 20% of Russia’s trout market, plans to build a state-of-the-art aquaculture breeding center—the only one in southern Russia—to cultivate trout and other fish species. North Ossetian specialists expressed readiness to share fish and fodder production technologies with Belarusian counterparts.
In horticulture, North Ossetia has made significant strides, boasting Russia’s largest asparagus farm and a thriving apple industry. The region is also reviving its viticulture and experimenting with blueberry cultivation. Menyailo highlighted the annual potato growers’ conference, which attracts experts from across Russia and abroad, as a potential platform for collaboration with Belarusian farmers and scientists.
Complementary, Not Competitive
Both sides emphasized the importance of building a partnership that complements rather than competes with each other’s markets. Aleksandr Yakovchits, Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian state food industry concern Belgospishcheprom, noted that Belarusian enterprises, such as the Malorita canning plant and the Stolbtsy-based Gorodeya sugar plant, are already exploring opportunities to source North Ossetian apples and asparagus for their production lines.
The North Ossetian delegation’s visit to Belarus, scheduled from February 11 to 14, also included tours of major industrial enterprises, such as the Belarusian automaker MAZ, and further government-level negotiations.
As both regions seek to leverage their strengths, the partnership between Belarus and North Ossetia promises to yield mutual benefits, fostering innovation and growth in their respective agricultural sectors.
