Moscow, Russia – Russia and Nigeria have entered into a strategic partnership to advance seed development and crop breeding, strengthening agricultural cooperation between the two nations. The agreement was announced during the 27th Golden Autumn Agro-Industrial Exhibition held in Moscow.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed at the West African collective pavilion, which also featured representatives from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Togo. The pact was endorsed by Vyacheslav Lukomets, Director of Russia’s P.P. Lukyanenko National Grain Center, and Ayodeji Oludare Sotinrin, Director General of Nigeria’s Bank of Agriculture.

Science at the Heart of Agricultural Progress

“Science lies at the core of all development processes,” said Lukomets during the signing ceremony. He emphasized that the collaboration originated from shared business interests and the recognition that scientific innovation is essential for meaningful progress in agriculture.

In an interview with African-focused media, Sotinrin lauded Russia as “one of the world leaders in seed production,” adding that Nigeria hopes to become a fully equal partner through a knowledge-sharing framework.

“We believe in the effectiveness of this partnership and in the mutual exchange of knowledge,” he said.

Russia’s Commitment to Africa’s Food Security

Andrey Razin, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture, reaffirmed Moscow’s commitment to supporting African nations in their quest for food security and sustainable agriculture.

“We are ready to work with the African continent—both by supplying our products and by purchasing a variety of goods that interest us, such as coffee, tea, flowers, fruits, and many others that have a market in Russia,” Razin stated.

A Step Toward Stronger Agricultural Ties

The Golden Autumn Exhibition, organized under the supervision of Russian authorities, ran from October 8 to 11. This new partnership builds upon Russia’s ongoing agricultural engagements across Africa, blending commercial collaboration with humanitarian aid.

Earlier this year, in July, Burkina Faso received over 700 tons of yellow split peas from Russia as part of a food assistance initiative—demonstrating Moscow’s growing agricultural footprint on the continent.