ROST Group, Russia's market leader in greenhouse-grown vegetables, opened an ag-tech classroom on September 25 at Lyceum No. 5, a public school in Zaraysk in Moscow Oblast. The program will begin in eighth grade. The industry partner for the initiative, launched as part of the federal "Workforce for Agriculture" project, is the Lukhovitskie Ovoshchi greenhouse complex, one of ROST Group's leading operations in Moscow Oblast.
The investor funded a complete modernization of the 80.2-square-meter classroom. The new learning lab is equipped for hands-on work with hydroponic growing, seedling propagation, growing media and fertilizers, nutrient-solution monitoring and adjustment, as well as agricultural chemistry testing and experiments. It also includes a range of instructional and demonstration materials.
The curriculum will focus on "Plant Genetics and Breeding," with advanced coursework in chemistry, biology and mathematics, an expanded physics program, and extracurricular courses including "Introduction to Microbiology," "Modern Agricultural Biotechnology" and "Agricultural Physics: From Problems to Technology." High school students will also have the opportunity to explore careers in biotechnology, agricultural chemistry and other modern fields related to controlled-environment agriculture.
The project is designed to introduce students to modern agribusiness, help them learn about in-demand careers and give them a clear education-to-career pathway. Students will be able to move from Lyceum No. 5 to either the Lukhovitsy Agricultural and Industrial College or the Russian State Agrarian University — Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, with opportunities to continue their professional development at the Lukhovitskie Ovoshchi greenhouse complex.
"In the ag-tech classroom, you will learn to work with advanced equipment that, I would go so far as to say, is comparable in sophistication to technology used in the space industry. You will get an inside look at how modern agricultural production works from end to end.
If you decide to build a career in agriculture, the knowledge and hands-on experience you gain here will give you a meaningful head start. ROST Group has partnership agreements with the Lukhovitsy Agricultural and Industrial College and the Timiryazev Academy, so you can begin mapping out your future education and career pathway while you are still in school.
We need young, creative professionals who are passionate about what they do. Welcome to our industry and to modern agriculture," A. Kremlyov, Director of the Lukhovitskie Ovoshchi greenhouse complex, told the. students.
ROST Group HR Director Irina Yabreeva highlighted the role of digital technology: "You are the future of our industry — and some of you may become future ROST Group employees. We already use AI technologies to grow vegetables across our greenhouse operations. We have developed our own AI bot, ROSTislav, a digital assistant for growers. It analyzes production data and helps our specialists decide which greenhouse climate or nutrient-solution parameters need to be adjusted for the plants. We use AI not only in crop production, but also in human resources. It is a reliable tool that can operate around the clock, seven days a week. But even the most advanced robots and digital systems do not replace people — they still need people to configure, maintain and improve them.
That is why we need professionals who know how to work with robotic equipment, understand digital technologies and are ready to apply AI to real-world production challenges. If you think greenhouses or agriculture are old-fashioned, think again. Today, ROST Group is Russia's leader in applying AI to controlled-environment vegetable production. Modern agriculture is a major engine of the Russian economy, and your generation will be the one to make it even more technology-driven, efficient and competitive."
ROST Group Chief Operating Officer Sergey Pyatakov added: "Today is a special day for ROST Group as we open our first ag-tech classroom. It is an important milestone for us and a great opportunity for you to start exploring advanced technology and modern controlled-environment growing methods right now.
Our operations are highly automated. We are deploying robotic solutions and developing our proprietary AI-powered Digital Agronomist platform. This is not some distant vision of the future — it is how we operate today.
About 15 million people across Russia choose ROST Group products every day. That is a tremendous source of pride for us, and an equally tremendous responsibility: to provide consumers with fresh, flavorful, high-quality vegetables. We hope that many of you who are beginning to think about your future careers will one day become part of our team — a team of professionals, innovators and market leaders.
Together with the Lyceum administration, the Zaraysk municipal government, the Lukhovitsy Agricultural and Industrial College and the Timiryazev Academy, we want to give you a clear pathway from education to a career. You are the generation that will take this industry forward. So be bold, ask questions, stay curious and make the most of this opportunity."
ROST Group continues to expand its partnerships with specialized colleges and universities. Since October 2025, the Timiryazev Academy has hosted the ROST Greenhouse of Knowledge, an educational space with lecture and computer classrooms and a dedicated project-work area. The company also invites high school and college students to take part in career exploration programs, hands-on training and internships, while placing a strong emphasis on sponsored education programs that help build a long-term talent pipeline for the industry.
ROST Group is Russia's largest producer of greenhouse-grown vegetables, with annual production of approximately 500,000 metric tons. The company operates 23 greenhouse complexes across 16 regions of Russia, along with six modern logistics centers.
In 2025, the Lukhovitskie Ovoshchi greenhouse complex in the Moscow Region produced 26,000 metric tons of cucumbers, 4,600 metric tons of tomatoes and 3,700 metric tons of cherry tomatoes. In the first half of 2026, production totaled 13,300 metric tons of cucumbers, 3,300 metric tons of tomatoes and 2,400 metric tons of cherry tomatoes. The facility grows vegetables under the Flamenco, Medovye, Sladkaya Yagoda, Botanika, Lukhovitskie Ovoshchi and ROST brands.
By year-end, the facility plans to upgrade its supplemental lighting system by switching to energy-efficient LED fixtures. The technology is expected to increase yields by as much as 30%.
The Lukhovitskie Ovoshchi site is also home to a modern logistics center with capacity to handle up to 500 metric tons of vegetables per day. The facility features automated grading and packaging lines, robotic arms and a smart cold-storage system equipped with sensors and telemetry and integrated with the warehouse management system to monitor storage conditions and the movement of fresh produce.
