Launched by FAO and theGlobal Soil Partnership (GSP) in 2020, the RECSOIL initiative aims to maintain and increase soil carbon stocks as a means to improve soil health, mitigate and adapt to climate change, increase yields, and improve farmers’ livelihoods. With FAO technical support, the initiative is currently being implemented in eight countries, including Armenia, Costa Rica, Ghana, Mexico, Kazakhstan, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago and Uzbekistan. 

In Russia, the RECSOIL pilot project has been implemented since 2024 by PhosAgro, AgroGard, and the Faculty of Soil Science at Lomonosov Moscow State University, with technical support from FAO. The project promotes carbon‑conserving sustainable agricultural practices that increase soil organic carbon stocks on agricultural land, thereby increasing overall soil health, crop yield, and farmer livelihoods. AgroGard is piloting the RECSOIL initiative across 200 hectares of winter wheat, implementing cover cropping, targeted nutrient plans, and crop rotation to increase soil carbon stocks and reduce agricultural emissions.  As part of this project, a series of scientific and practical workshops on the RECSOIL initiative in Russia was launched. 

The topic of the second workshop was the method for assessing the carbon balance based on the Environmental eXternalities ACcounting Tool (EX-ACT), developed by FAO. The tool plays a key role in estimating not only soil carbon sequestration over time but also provides insights into other agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, such as those from fuel consumption.

During the workshop, FAO expert Guillermo Peralta examined the key mechanisms for recarbonizing agricultural soils and the EX-ACT carbon balance assessment methodologies. The event was attended by lecturers and researchers from leading specialized institutions in the country: the Faculty of Soil Science at Lomonosov Moscow State University, the Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, the National Research University Higher School of Economics, Krasnoyarsk State Agrarian University, the Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute, the Institute of Biology of the Komi Science Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Federal Scientific Center for Agroecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Saint-Petersburg State University of Veterinary Medicine.

The 41 participants, attending the workshop, conducted a detailed analysis of the input data requirements necessary for applying this model. It was noted that correct application of EX-ACT, in combination with other data collected under the RECSOIL initiative, makes it possible not only to assess the impact of agricultural technologies on soil organic carbon stocks but also to identify the most effective and economically viable strategies for mitigating the impacts of climate change on agricultural production. Along with other relevant models (e.g., RothC, DNDC), the EX-ACT model is used for the quantitative assessment of greenhouse gas emissions and removals in climate projects.

The workshop builds on momentum from World Soil Day 2025 in Russia, when an international conference titled “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities”, organized by PhosAgro, AgroGard,  Lomonosov Moscow State University, and FAO, presented the first-year results of RECSOIL implementation in Russia. A highlight of the event was the awarding of the FAO “Global Technical Recognition” prize for technical excellence to PhosAgro, honouring its achievement in the category “Land, soil and water resource management for resilient agriculture and food security.” The award aligns with the four betters of FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022-31: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life.

Natalia Rodríguez Eugenio, Land and Water Officer, and member of the GSP Secretariat said: “We are delighted to see the progress made in implementing the RECSOIL pilot programme in Russia, led by PhosAgro and the Faculty of Soil Science at Lomonosov Moscow State University. This can serve as an example for other entities in the country and promote the scaling up of the adoption of sustainable soil management practices.”

Alexander Gilgenberg, Chief Executive Officer of PhosAgro said: “The successful collaboration between PhosAgro and FAO serves as a vivid example of caring for soil conservation and climate protection, ensuring high yields, preserving field fertility and enhancing food security. We sincerely hope that such educational events contribute to growing interest in modern agricultural methods that respond to changing climatic conditions and stimulate the creation of new, effective climate initiatives. We express our special gratitude to our partners from the Global Soil Partnership, the FAO Liaison Office with the Russian Federation, and the Faculty of Soil Science at Lomonosov Moscow State University for their contribution to organizing such an important and significant event.”

Pavel Krasilnikov, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Soil Science at Lomonosov Moscow State University, said the university views climate mitigation as priority. He noted that the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 145 dated February 28, 2024 on the Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation, highlights key priorities such as the accurate assessment of emissions and removals of climate-active substances, reducing their negative environmental and climatic impact, and enhancing the capacity for qualitative adaptation of ecosystems, the population, and economic sectors to climate change.

Moscow State University is actively involved in several federal programmes to build a national monitoring network and implement projects to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The success of these initiatives depends on collaboration with responsible businesses in Russia and constructive engagement with international organizations. The RECSOIL project in Russia, initiated and financially supported by PhosAgro, with scientific and methodological support from Moscow State University, is a clear example of how such collaboration can deliver results through fruitful cooperation.”

***PhosAgro has a long-standing partnership with the FAO’s GSP in the field of sustainable soil management. Since 2018, the Company has been collaborating with FAO through project agreement in support of the activities of the Global Soil Partnership, especially those related to the Global Network of Soil Laboratories (GLOSOLAN) and the Global Soil Doctors Programme.

The Global Soil Doctors Programme is a farmer-to-farmer training initiative that promotes knowledge sharing on sustainable, effective and environmentally safe soil management practices. The programme includes providing farmers with “soil testing kits” – sets of tools for diagnosing soil conditions, enabling farmers to independently determine optimal management approaches to enhance productivity while preserving and restoring soil health.