XVII International Dairy Congress in Uman: Resilient Farms, European Future

“One of the fastest-growing branches – even in wartime”

In his address, Andriy Dykun, President of AVM and Chairman of VAR, called the Congress “one of the most important annual events for the dairy sector”. He underlined that, despite the war, Ukrainian dairy farms show “extraordinary resilience and significant growth” – with higher shares of extra-grade milk, better export opportunities to the EU and more room for cooperation and joint development.

This progress is achieved under extremely difficult conditions. Many farms operate close to the front line, under the threat of shelling and in constant electricity blackouts. Some remain in temporarily occupied territories; others have had to start again from scratch after liberation. Despite this, dairy farming today is not only one of the largest agrarian branches in Ukraine, but also one of the few that is still growing.

According to the analytical panel presented by Hanna Lavreniuk (General Director of AVM) and Olena Zhupinas (Head of Processing Cooperation Projects at AVM), the sector currently counts:

• 1.155 million cows, of which 382,000 are in industrial dairy farms;
• 7.21 million tonnes of milk produced in 2024;
• Average productivity of 8,167 kg per cow per year, with top farms exceeding 10,000 kg;
• 198 kg of milk consumption per capita;
• more than 100 farms investing in expansion, modern equipment and renewable energy;
• a rapidly improving quality profile – 62% of milk delivered to processors already meets “extra grade” standards.

At the same time, the sector faces major challenges: labour shortages in rural areas, frequent blackouts, rising electricity prices, high internal logistics costs and sharply increased export logistics costs. These topics were addressed in detail throughout the Congress.

From Uman to Europe: strategy, standards and markets

The main plenary section “Ukrainian Dairy Sector: Challenges and Strategies” looked at market developments up to 2030, global consumption trends and their impact on Ukraine. Panellists discussed how Ukraine can position itself as a reliable supplier of high-quality products.

A second key panel focused on EU integration and regulatory change. Representatives of the Ministry of Economy, ecology and agriculture, the State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection, and members of the Verkhovna Rada’s Agrarian Committee discussed:

• results of the screening of Ukraine’s readiness for EU accession in the dairy chapter;
• new requirements in veterinary medicine and cattle identification;
• programmes of state support for recovery and EU adaptation of the dairy sector;
• how to safeguard the most vulnerable farms in frontline and relocated areas.

Ukrainian experts and international partners underlined that alignment with EU standards on animal welfare, traceability, food safety and ESG (environmental, social and governance criteria) is not only a legal requirement, but also a commercial opportunity – opening doors to demanding European consumers.

Practical know-how: technology, management and veterinary expertise

Alongside the strategic discussions, the Congress in Uman hosted several specialised sections:

• “Farm Management and Milk Production Technology” – focusing on system thinking on farms, automation, precision feeding, digital herd management, climate-smart maize silage, and practical ecology (feed storage and CO₂ emissions).
• The Veterinary Forum – dedicated to biosecurity, vaccination strategies, diagnostics, calf health and the conditions for productive longevity of cows.
• A special panel “Milk under Fire” – where farmers from Chernihiv, Kyiv and Kharkiv regions shared their experience of keeping herds, people and infrastructure safe under shelling while maintaining performance indicators.

These sessions showed that, even under attack, Ukrainian farmers invest in modern equipment, data-driven management and high animal-welfare standards, very much in line with Dutch and European practice.

A bottom-up strategy for regional development

Participants of this year’s Congress agreed that Ukraine needs a five-year regional development strategy for the dairy sector. According to Andriy Dykun, this strategy should identify:

• priority processing plants and territories,
• raw milk collection radiuses,
• and areas for joint investments by farmers and processors.

Importantly, he stressed that the initiative “must come from below – from the milk producers themselves”, while national authorities and international partners provide predictable rules, targeted support and, above all, security.

The event in Uman concluded with the “Dairy Records of Ukraine 2025” awards, recognising the farms and companies that achieved outstanding productivity and quality results under wartime conditions.

The Embassy’s support for the XVII International Dairy Congress in Uman is part of this long-term partnership. By bringing Dutch and Ukrainian stakeholders together, the Congress strengthens business links, accelerates the adoption of sustainable technologies and contributes to the reconstruction of Ukraine’s rural economy.

Even in times of war, the message from Uman is clear: Ukraine’s dairy sector is moving forward – more resilient, more sustainable and ever closer to Europe – with the steadfast friendship and support of the Netherlands.