In 2024, ROST Group proudly became a sponsor of the nationwide "Vysshaya Proba" Olympiad in biology organized by the Higher School of Economics. ROST Group is the first agricultural sector company to take the lead in supporting this discipline.
The objective in partnering with the Olympiad is to reshape the image of agronomy—from outdated stereotypes of "plant beds and rubber boots" to a modern, high-tech industry. The company aims to spark students' interest in agricultural science and demonstrate the greenhouse sector's strong demand for ambitious, talented young minds.
This year, 274,000 students from across Russia took part in the Olympiad, competing in 30 different disciplines. The final round, held in February 2025, welcomed 25,000 participants—1,596 of whom tackled the biology track.
On June 13, the awards ceremony for winners and finalists took place. ROST Management Company's HR Development and Employee Engagement Department created a themed interactive booth for attendees, featuring several zones:
VR Greenhouse — where students stepped into the role of real vegetable growers, tasked with assessing the ripeness of tomatoes and identifying acceptable defects in line with ROST Group's high quality standards.
Photo zone — a branded backdrop with instant photos that participants could take home as a fun keepsake.
Original treats — snacks, smoothies, as well as tomato and cucumber flavored ice cream, all made from our own produce.
Branded souvenirs — so popular they had people lining up to get their hands on them.
The students were full of curiosity, asking many questions about the ROST Group, amazed by its scale, and eager to sample our products.
On June 23, the top-performing students in the biology track visited ROST Group's Moscow office for an exclusive tour and an engaging discussion with the Director of Agrotechnology Development, the HR Director, and leading members of the "Digital Growers" project team. The students discovered many fascinating insights about cutting-edge technologies and the digital transformation in agronomy, as well as what the modern agribusiness looks like today. Representing the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE), Tamara Anatolyevna Protasevich, Director of the Gifted Student Program, also participated in the meeting.
At the close of the visit, ROST Group honored the winners with branded commemorative gifts in recognition of their outstanding performance in the academic competition.
