interview recorded during the “Potato Tour of Russia.”
The Klimovsk potato project began in 1998—in a historically “potato” zone where Klimovo once hosted one of the country’s largest starch plants. In the 2000s, margins on the crop were many times higher than today, so the choice to focus on potatoes was rational. Since then, the company has evolved from a local farm into a multi-site operation with modern infrastructure.
Why potatoes
“Everything we do is built around potatoes. We grow grains—but they support the main crop.”
The decision is backed by the region’s agro-climate, accumulated know-how, and proximity to processing/markets.
Scale and geography
- Land bank: about 16,000 ha.
- Locations: several districts in Bryansk Oblast plus a unit in Tula Oblast.
- Team: 200+ specialists, some on staff since 2008; entire families now work for the company across two generations.
Technology and production
- Irrigation and precision agriculture, with elements of AI in certain processes.
- Seed program: ~300 ha of seed potatoes for internal needs; grading by fraction, culling defects; seed treatment applied in-planter at planting.
- Field logistics: sorting near the work site when needed; stepwise commissioning of land after grubbing (fallow → winter cereal → potato).
Infrastructure
- Central base “Sytaya Budda”:
- 40,000-ton storage complex,
- loading areas, a mechanical yard,
- in-house repair shops (turners, welders, mechanics, electricians),
- laboratory (defect/disease checks; frying chip and fry samples before shipping to processors).
- New warehouses were built largely in-house (floor pours, electrical, heating, lighting).
- Plans: two parallel shipping lines—a “wet” (washing) line and a “dry” line—to load two trucks simultaneously.
People first: how they retain staff
The company provides a “field social package” focused on comfort:
- daily hot lunches,
- heated clean site cabins and proper toilets,
- bus transport from district centers (40–50 km),
- bonuses and extras: long-service pay, paid birthdays, anniversaries, weddings; help with medical expenses,
- care for local communities: snow clearing, fixing street lighting, tree removal.
“People want comfort—kindergartens, hospitals, leisure. We bus employees in. Pay is competitive, and our approach is socially oriented.”
Risks and plans
Its border-adjacent location creates operational constraints (connectivity, logistics, security). Investment plans are paused, not canceled: the company is “waiting out the negative factors” and preparing to further boost efficiency and customer service.
Fact sheet
- Founded: 1998
- Land bank: ~16,000 ha
- Team: 200+ employees
- Region: Bryansk Oblast (+ Tula Oblast)
- Storage: 40,000 t
- Seed area: ~300 ha (for in-house needs)
- Shipping: planned dual parallel lines (washed/dry)
In their own words
“Potatoes are our focus. Every process is tuned to them.”
“We build a lot with our own hands—faster and more reliable.”
“A comprehensive, people-centered approach is what keeps talent.”
