Founder and Member of the Management Board (CEO); President of the EkoNiva Group, Ekosem-Agrar AG
Re: Ein Bauer für Putin - Stefan Dürr und sein russisches Imperium Doku (2017)
About Stefan Dürr
Stefan Dürr, the German-born founder and CEO of the EkoNiva Group, has been publicly discussing his role in Russian agricultural policy and his relationship with President Vladimir Putin. In a 2015 interview, Dürr stated that he advised Putin to impose sanctions on Europe, saying, "It cannot be that only one side is punished for something that at least we in Russia cannot understand." He described his influence on Putin as "probably in the promille range." Dürr also expressed concern about the deterioration of German-Russian relations, comparing himself to a child whose parents are divorcing and noting that "what has been built up over 20 years will be destroyed in a few months." In a 2017 documentary, Dürr characterized the Russian business environment as "ice hockey" compared to the "football" style of German business, emphasizing the need to be "fast and robust" while following fixed rules. He acknowledged that Western sanctions against Russia had provided a short-term advantage for his dairy operations by reducing European imports, but warned that countries like Brazil and Argentina would fill the gap once sanctions were lifted. Dürr also reflected on surviving the 2008-2009 financial crisis, when his company faced high interest rates and unsold machinery, noting that his dairy operations ultimately saved the business.
Transcript (21 segments)
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Narrator0:09
Two headlines made Stefan Dürr famous: first, President Vladimir Putin awarded him Russian citizenship in 2014; second, after Europe imposed sanctions on Russia over the annexation of Crimea, he advised Putin personally on counter-sanctions. Thus, the farmer Stefan Dürr finds himself at the center of big politics, a man between two worlds. Mid-February, there is more snow than usual in the district of List, southwest Russia, in the central black earth region. District head Viktor Chefzov is visiting Stefan Dürr at minus 20 degrees. To overview the size of Stefan Dürr's company EkoNiva, it's best to look from above. Stefan Dürr is one of the largest dairy farmers in Russia.
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Stefan Dürr2:17
45,000 hectares at a single location for fields and farms. In Germany, a farmer manages an average of 60 hectares. I always say you could be in Greenland or Tanzania; it's something completely different. That was 1989, the Soviet Union still existed. I had no idea that instead of taking over my parents' farm, I would stay here. To do agriculture, you need space. In Germany there is much less. We come here and see the possibilities. It became exciting, and I met the right people. At the beginning, someone told me it would become a large company, and I thought it would never happen. To say it's a large company is an understatement.
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Narrator3:25
Oliver [or: Alone] has Russia far more than 70,000 cattle, calves and young animals are kept outdoors and are happy even at minus 20 degrees. District head Chefzov was present when Stefan Dürr searched for a former collective farm in 2002. The Russians were initially skeptical.
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Viktor Chefzov3:58
I still remember how they came and asked: Can we work in your district? He got the farms that were on the brink. The crisis of the 1990s had hit our agriculture hard. He got the weakest farms. At the first meeting in the collective farm 'Quiet Don', the people gathered and Stephan introduced himself. Back then, there used to be a German landowner and order reigned. The old farmers said: Maybe it will be the same with this German. He should do it.
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Stefan Dürr5:01
Actually, I only wanted to propagate seeds here, so we also took over a few cows. The district head, who I am still enormously grateful to, said: If you get rid of the cows, you destroy jobs. If you destroy the jobs, you can give it back. I stayed, and the cows became my main business alongside agricultural machinery. The growth of my company is barely imaginable by European standards.
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Narrator5:40
118,000 dairy cows, annual turnover in 2015: 145 million euros, nearly 4,000 employees. While dairy farmers in the West fight for survival, Russia's milk demand remains huge. The state promotes dairy farming, and Dürr can barely keep up with construction.
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Stefan Dürr6:09
The Neustadt facility was put into operation at the end of 2015, and we have now put an identical one into operation in January. Three times a day, each of the 2,800 cows gives about 30 liters of milk. I must say we were well received from the first day; there were never any bad voices because I am German. The battles around the village of Zetsche, where I opened my first farm, they call the second Stalingrad. During the anniversary of the Great Patriotic War, we were all astonished: a man stayed and laid wreaths and asked forgiveness for his grandfathers and his nation. That was very touching. The school was renovated with my help. Today it is a model village. I spend about 600,000 euros annually for charity. In 2015, the village received a new church; I was the main sponsor. Building the church was a matter of the heart for me. The district head thought it cost too much, but over time he came to like it.
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Priest9:46
We are grateful that he shows us understanding. All people are God's creatures. We are very grateful to him for allowing us such help. The village kindergarten was built by Dürr's company. Wherever you go, Stefan Dürr is revered like a hero.
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Stefan Dürr10:57
From here I rule my Russian empire. I didn't study Russian; I just sat with other interns. I slowly learned the language, but it was a rural colloquial language. In Moscow, it made the Muscovites' ears fall off. My CEO seat is in the car. The drive to Voronezh takes at least two hours. I have an appointment with the deputy governor Viktor Loginov to talk about subsidies. When I come, it's a bit like a state visit. Until the sanctions, many asked why we subsidize agriculture. But it is clear we need self-sufficiency. Russia invests 400 million euros annually in milk production. My company received 15 million euros in 2016. The strained relationship with Europe plays almost no role between us.
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Viktor Loginov13:59
The relationships between ordinary people are good. I want to be honest: the sanctions are good for us. They strengthen our agriculture. Keep the sanctions for another ten years. We are grateful for them. We will develop our domestic production. We are happy that Stefan is building his company here.
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Stefan Dürr15:10
The worst was 2009. We had ordered a lot of machinery, and the banks couldn't finance anymore. We paid over 30 percent interest. Nobody bought anything. We moved in with the in-laws. Ironically, the cows saved me. Now they make up 65 percent of my turnover. I am glad for that experience. It taught me that there are always difficult times, but you plan accordingly.
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Narrator16:27
The night drive back from Voronezh. One of his dairy facilities lies on the way; he looks in. Stefan Dürr loves order. He wants to know when the numbers will rise. Soon, says an employee. In this facility alone there are 2,808 cows. They produce 700 tons of milk daily. In Germany, a dairy farm has on average 56 cows. The night journey continues to Moscow for the Agrofarm exhibition. 600 kilometers, he says. He is constantly on the move, commuting between Russia and Germany. The next morning Moscow. The Agrofarm is a trade fair and political stage. The deputy prime minister is there. The strained relationship with Europe is a topic. The farmers want to know how subsidies will continue. Many people think the Germans or the EU want to harm them. But here the German is trusted. He is one of the most powerful milkmen in Russia, a farmer for Putin. Many hopes rest on him because he is the connection to the West.
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Viktor Loginov20:13
The world is becoming more global. That is why it is very important that there are such people as Stefan Dürr. He is not only a great story for our economy, but also a kind of diplomat who builds political bridges.
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Stefan Dürr20:49
When President Putin granted me citizenship in 2014, I cried. It was like living together without a marriage certificate. I advised Putin to react with counter-sanctions. But whoever thinks I have switched sides is mistaken. I am still convinced it was right. Eye for an eye is stupid. Sanctions in the 21st century are absurd. Against a huge country like Russia, with only half the world participating, it's ridiculous.
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Narrator22:00
Russian farmers and food producers benefit from the import ban. Also Stefan Dürr: the milk market is booming, turnover is rising, patriotism is growing.
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Stefan Dürr22:19
If you look at the World Cup, half the people would not have been there 23 years ago. The quality of products has improved extremely. We can do it ourselves. When the sanctions are gone, the West has scored an own goal. They have been thrown out of the market. At the end of 2016, I began to process my own milk. I present yogurt, cream, quark, and whole milk under the brand 'Academy of Milk Sciences'. They are high-quality, not stretched with palm oil. The cheerful cow is our mascot. At the Green Week in Berlin, Russia is not present, but I am here privately. Two years ago, Russia had a large hall; it was very popular. People miss Russia. Actually, the German farmers should be annoyed with me because I support the counter-sanctions. They lose two billion euros in turnover per year.
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German Official25:02
I have heard from many people that there are no resentments against Dürr. He leads the German-Russian agricultural policy dialogue. Talking is better than shooting. He has done that well in the past. We need every bridge over there. I hope he continues to be successful.
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Narrator25:57
Back in Russia in Kaluga. The next dairy facility is being opened, the twelfth. The foundation stone for the thirteenth is laid. Each facility makes it even harder for German farmers to export milk to Russia. Everyone has come to the event: children from the school, the mascot, the political elite. They all bask in the glory of Stefan Dürr and his Russian milk empire.
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Stefan Dürr27:31
Here the German Russian is back in his new world. He wishes the political relationship with his old world would improve. Who made more mistakes? Who started? We all made mistakes. I believe the president would do some things differently today. The Chancellor would as well. We just have to get out of it, not blame each other.
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Narrator28:18
One of his few private toys is an ice hockey stick. He plays regularly with his company team against the city administration. But for Dürr, ice hockey is a metaphor for Russian business life.
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Stefan Dürr28:56
Business conduct in Germany is like football, in Russia it's ice hockey. Fast and robust, but still according to rules. In ice hockey, he who is fastest and most robust achieves his goal. Next time we all go back to work after the game.