We share knowledge
Competitors do not even do a half of what Grupa Azoty does.
The company should continue to invest in its local community, enabling people to develop, gain an education, have broader ambitions, and live with dignity.
A quote from a dialogue session
Prime quality specialisation in various fields of chemical technology is among our biggest assets. Many of our employees are top-of-the-line experts in their respective fields both at home and in Europe. We share our knowledge and experience with chemists from Poland’s leading institutions of research and science.
Our key partner remains the prestigious New Chemical Syntheses Institute, which has for years been the first choice research facility for many Group companies. Our partnership involves a range of R&D and implementation projects pursued in Poland and abroad, as well as joint development and pilot launch of new products and manufacturing technologies. Examples include an upgrade and capacity increase at two production lines of Grupa Azoty Police’s ammonia plant, upgrade of nitric acid units in Tarnów and Kędzierzyn-Koźle, and construction of a flue gas desulfurisation system at Grupa Azoty Puławy. Together with our partner, we are also working to develop smart fertilizers, that is new formulas tailored to the specific needs of various crops as well as the nutrient content in soils. Since it first began to work with the New Chemical Syntheses Institute, the Group has spent a total of over PLN 80m on joint research projects.
The New Chemical Syntheses Institute is among Poland’s top research institutions in industrial chemistry. It was rated A in the most recent parametric evaluation, which confirms the very high quality of its scientific research. Its key source of revenue is applied research and implementation projects for the broad fertilizer industry. In recent years, it has spent in excess of PLN 120m to expand its innovative research and production facilities. The Institute conducts applied research in the area of large-scale chemical synthesis related to synthesis gas production, ammonia synthesis, catalysts, nitrogen compounds and nitrogen, phosphorus and compound fertilizers. It also works on the development of new bioeconomy and green chemistry technologies, including innovative biomaterials such as biodegradable polymers, which are made from renewable raw materials and are applied across many industries. The Institute is also a European leader of research into supercritical CO2 extraction of phytochemicals.
In a joint project run in 2018, we designed a unit for comprehensive processing of waste streams containing sodium sulfate. The unit comprises two main processes: nanofiltration and electrodialysis, and produces a solution of sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide suitable for industrial applications. A patent application has been filed, and the solution may be used in practice in the industrial sector.
BEST PRACTICE
In 2018, Grupa Azoty and the Faculty of Chemistry of the Jagiellonian University signed an agreement for scientific and research collaboration in the fields of chemical sciences, new materials and technologies, and environmental protection. Together with the University’s researchers, we will run research projects and master’s degree, doctoral and habilitation projects. Under the agreement, student and research internship programmes will be organised and employees will be part of advisory teams considering the contracted research projects .
BEST PRACTICE
In November 2018, Grupa Azoty was a partner of Congress 590 in Jasionka. Our experts participated in panel discussions on raw material policy and implementation-based doctoral programmes. During the event, Wojciech Wardacki, President of the company’s Management Board, spoke about the strategic role of raw materials, their impact on the Group’s business and financial condition and the need to protect agriculture.
We accept our share of responsibility for the future of our industry and for the quality of life and living conditions in the communities which host our operations. We develop new products, set new trends and influence the market and its environment, which is why we engage in the activities of numerous organisations with a global, national or local reach. Our representatives are invited to sit at the most important decision-making tables, for example at the World Economic Forum in Davos and thematic regional forums, while also being the first voice from Central Europe at the Royal Institute of International Affairs Chatham House in London, Europe’s leading think tank.
For years, we have been a strategic partner of the Polish Chemical Industry Congress – one of the highest-profile industry events in Poland and the key forum for discussion and sharing of expertise in technological solutions, innovative concepts and strategies, implementation of capex projects, process safety, innovation, and the impact of the legal and economic environment on the industry. In 2018, we took part in the strategic debate ‘Chemicals of the Future – Key Development Directions’.
We understand the importance of knowledge transfer between the Grupa Azoty Group and various actors involved in food production, sharing our knowledge with both farmers and agricultural consultants. At many levels we educate them on sustainable agriculture – relying on traditional, proven training channels, but also making use of the latest knowledge transfer technologies.
BEST PRACTICE
Products made in Police and their applications in various types of crops were the main topics discussed during a seminar on modern soil fertilization methods that was held at Grupa Azoty Police’s registered office in 2018. The training was attended by farmers from the provinces of Zielona Góra and Szczecin. It was their first visit to Grupa Azoty Police.
Participants were provided with data on fertilizers made by the company and were given a tour of the production line so that they could see the fertilizer granulation, drying and sieving process for themselves. Attended by 23 farmers, the seminar was a second meeting of this type between the fertilizer producer and its potential customers.
It is necessary to build the public’s awareness of why fertilizers are needed to produce food.
The company provides plenty of training events, meetings and information materials on fertilizer application management. Farmers, especially those running large agricultural operations, are well trained.
A quote from a dialogue session
Driven by technological progress, the present-day economy needs comprehensive service. Taking good advantage of agricultural progress requires increasing levels of expertise which takes account of economical growth in yields and ensures proper quality of agricultural products and safety of the environment. At the Grupa Azoty Group, we want to help farmers and agricultural consultants to efficiently manage agricultural operations.
We provide training
Together with our trading partners, we organise free training courses for farmers. Our experts share their knowledge of crop plants and the use and application of fertilizers. We explain specific soil and crop requirements. We always remain open to questions and we are happy to see the high attendance at our meetings.
Our training projects are supplemented with the Fertilizer Encyclopeadia, providing a wealth of knowledge, including understandably presented practical information not only about fertilizer characteristics but also about nutrients and soil. The website also contains current information on agricultural product prices and farm work schedules prepared by the Grupa Azoty Group's experts.
We also train our regional representatives through the Agroacademy project, run as regular meetings in various Polish cities and towns to educate them, both in theory and practical aspects, about fertilizers and their application. The meetings are an opportunity to exchange experiences from various regions of the country and to pass on farmer feedback, gathered by our sales representatives, on the products and promotional activities we have carried out.
We initiate cooperation
At the Grupa Azoty Group, we know that a fast-changing and growing organisation needs to look for people who will be its strength in the near and more distant future. We want top talent to work for us, so we need to encourage and motivate the best candidates. It is therefore necessary to strengthen the Group’s reputation of a professional employer. As a step towards this goal, we have launched the ‘Grupa Azoty Brand Ambassador’ programme, which aims to promote the brand in academic circles. A dynamic, creative ambassador representing us at the university will be responsible for raising interest in the Grupa Azoty Group’s activities and building its positive image as an employer of choice.
The Grupa Azoty Brand Ambassadors will serve as a bridge between the Group and the academic community. Their tasks will include constant monitoring of the Group’s activities in the industry media, providing information and support in the organisation of meetings, seminars, workshops, and promotional events. The Ambassadors will also participate in arranging stands during university job fairs and will become the key source of knowledge about the Grupa Azoty Group for their fellow students. In exchange for their service, the students will receive benefits such as monthly ambassador scholarships, public transport tickets and an opportunity to visit our facilities.
Candidates are accepted based on a completed recruitment form available at grupaazoty.com. Selected candidates will be invited for an interview.
BEST PRACTICE
In June 2018, postgraduate students of industrial process safety analysed the safety of the facilities in selected departments of our plant in Kędzierzyn-Koźle. The findings were presented at a meeting with employees of the production departments and members of Grupa Azoty Kędzierzyn’s OHS and maintenance teams.
BEST PRACTICE
In September 2018, our plant in Kędzierzyn Koźle became the patron of the Władysław Szafer Agricultural Education School Complex in Głubczyce, supporting mainly agriculture-related vocational classes. With over 200 graduates every year, the school additionally provides training courses to more than 100 farmers.
BEST PRACTICE
In October 2018, we organised a third meeting between representatives of the Polish fertilizer industry, scientists and farmers on the experimental plots of Grupa Azoty Puławy. It was an excellent opportunity for more than 140 invited guests to discuss and ask questions about the use of different fertilizer combinations for particular crops. The main purpose of the workshop was to familiarise agricultural producers and consultants with the results obtained to date from the field research.
We engage in research
Since 2015, we have been running a unique research project under the name ‘Grounded in Knowledge’, in which we offer testing of soil for nutrient content free of charge. As part of a three-year campaign, we set ourselves the goal of reaching almost 2,000 farms across Poland and collecting 28,000 soil samples at as many as 17 regional chemical and agricultural stations. As a result the farm owners can learn the actual nutrient requirements of their soil and plan the right fertilization strategy. In the 6th edition of the campaign, the Grupa Azoty Group reached nearly 3,000 farms across the country and collected almost 40,000 samples. The 6th edition of the programme was held in May 2018, attracting almost 1,000 participants.
‘Grounded in Knowledge’ is very popular among farmers, but it is also appreciated by independent industry experts.
We embrace space technologies
Although our products are active in the ground, we are reaching for space technologies as well. We launched a pilot project whereby farmers can be informed about changes in the condition of their crops based on satellite observations. An application we are going to offer will enable direct communication with a seed spreader, management of soil water resources, and even crop yield forecasting. Its launch has been made possible by an agreement signed with SatAgro, a Polish start-up company.
The technology, soon to be made available to Polish farmers by Grupa Azoty and SatAgro, allows direct access to satellite observations made by NASA, the European Space Agency, the European Commission (Copernicus programme), and private operators. As a result, farmers gain crop data processing tools which can be used for individual farm fields to aid in effective farm management. With the application offered by Grupa Azoty, users will be able to remotely monitor crop growth, assess the impact of weather conditions and agronomic treatments, and analyse historical data.
As a small company that has only recently entered the market, SatAgro had limited possibilities of promoting its solution among farmers. But having partnered with Grupa Azoty, it has been able to reach farmers operating over many thousand hectares of land.
For SatAgro users, the solution offers two important benefits. Firstly, the SatAgro-generated application maps for precise fertilization allow farmers to rightsize the amount of fertilizers used, which results in efficiency gains. Moreover, while many users already had equipment for precision treatments, creating an application map required a considerable amount of time and know-how. With the application it is a matter of minutes, which means that SatAgro enables farmers to take full advantage of their equipment.
We want to remain an open business organisation, regularly holding open-door days for those interested in the inner workings of our plants. We support education by offering internship and traineeship opportunities for students, granting scholarships, and – to develop talents that could later become part of our own human resources – working with schools and academic institutions to organise specialist classes and faculties with a chemistry-focused syllabus.
BEST PRACTICE
AGROREWOLUCJE is a new online show whose participants are selected from among Polish farmers who wish to increase productivity and profits from their farms and register as candidates. Grupa Azoty is among the project’s partners. Viewers will see how three not very profitable and poorly organised Polish farms are transformed into productive, modern and, most importantly, profitable ones.
The hosts, Anna and Grzegorz Bardowski, stars of the Polish version of ‘Farmer Wants a Wife’, and experts will show how to correctly plan and take care of crop production so that it brings tangible financial benefits. The project also aims to demonstrate how to efficiently perform agrotechnical treatments, how to apply fertilizers, protect and feed crops and stimulate them to bring higher yields.
BEST PRACTICE
We do not forget about farmers' children, either. With the youngest ones in mind, the Grupa Azoty Group organised the‘Chemistry in Agriculture’ artistic contest, where children from across Poland had the chance to win attractive gifts
Grupa Azoty Police
In 2018, following the conclusion of an agreement between Grupa Azoty Police and the local County Governor’s Office, 13 students of the Ignacy Łukasiewicz School Complex in Police started a four-week internship at the company. The students took part in internship activities at the Water Analysis Laboratory, the Pigments BU Technology Department and the Fertilizers BU Technology Department.
Grupa Azoty
- In 2013, Grupa Azoty concluded an agreement with the Technical School Complex in Mościce whereby it agreed to hire ten graduates of each year, fund scholarships and prizes for successful students, provide trainee placements at its plant, deliver specialist classes through its experts, and co-fund the purchase of teaching aids.
- The company supports education of children and youth working with the SIEMACHA Association, KANA Catholic Youth Education Centre, Comprehensive School Complex No. 1 in Tarnów-Mościce, and Sports School Complex.
Grupa Azoty Kędzierzyn
- Grupa Azoty Kędzierzyn signed a patronage agreement with the Inland Navigation School Complex whereby the latter’s students learning to be ‘inland navigation technicians’ may use Grupa Azoty Kędzierzyn’s water infrastructure and port as well as take part in open-door classes. The agreement also provides for expert support in joint initiatives, e.g. conferences or scientific sessions on inland waterway transport, and a scholarship programme for students.
- In 2018, Grupa Azoty Kędzierzyn signed a patronage agreement with the Władysław Szafer Agricultural Training Centre, taking under its patronage agriculture-related fields of study (including the following specialisations: farm technician, agriculture mechanisation and agrotronics technician, horse breeding technician, landscape architecture technician, rural tourism technician, nutrition and catering services technician or food technologist).
BEST PRACTICE
Grupa Azoty Kędzierzyn became a patron of the chemistry classes at Nicholas Rej School Complex No. 3 in Kędzierzyn-Koźle.
It runs a Technology Workshop for the students at Grupa Azoty Kędzierzyn, forming part of their practical vocational training. The classes take place in designated places on the company’s premises, i.e. at the laboratory of nitrate fertilizers, laboratory of organic analysis, and laboratory of ammonia and nitric acid, as well as the calcium ammonium nitrate department, nitric acid department and alcohol department, and are held on a full-day basis, once a week, in order to implement the school curriculum. Divided into semester groups, they last until the end of a school year, ending with a grade for the subject on the school report.
For years, the company has provided chemical equipment to the school laboratory, supported its chemistry competitions, and offered scholarships to the most talented students.
Grupa Azoty Puławy
In 2014, under a cooperation agreement between the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University of Lublin, Grupa Azoty Puławy and the New Chemical Syntheses Institute, the University’s local branch in Puławy was opened. Its establishment was prompted by high demand on the labour market for specialists in chemistry and chemical processes. The Puławy branch of the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University offers engineering studies in technical chemistry, taught in well-equipped classrooms by highly qualified staff of the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Warsaw University of Technology, experts employed at Grupa Azoty Puławy and specialists from various scientific institutions based in Puławy. In addition to other opportunities, the technical chemistry students may attend classes held on the company's premises, and complete internships at Grupa Azoty Puławy. Under that cooperative arrangement, the company also commissions topics of academic theses, and its employees serve as the thesis co-supervisors.
