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Update from Kyiv by Carolien Spaans, LVVN

While in the Netherlands we have the saying “komkommertijd” (cucumber time) for the period in summer that there is hardly any news, this saying does not exist in Ukraine. This summer has brought an export blockade of the Black Sea ports, there is large-scale destruction of warehouses and distribution centers of the retail and, on a positive note, the Ministry of Agriculture has been restored as an independent Ministry. Read more

Incoming study visit on novel crops

Previous year, a study was conducted on how cooperation between the Netherlands and Ukraine can support the cultivation and chain development of novel crops in Ukraine. Novel crops are crops that are not widely grown in Ukraine yet. Ukraine currently produces mainly bulk commodities of grains and sunflowers, and is looking towards greater diversification and the value-added processing of crops into products.

As a follow-up on this study, last July a group of Ukrainian students in agronomy travelled to the Netherlands to learn about novel crops, start working on their own business cases for in Ukraine, and thereby initiating lasting contacts between the Ukrainian and Dutch arable sectors.

By visiting various companies, institutions and other organizations in the Netherlands, the group gained new experiences and contacts, which they are currently using to develop their own business cases for novel crops in Ukraine. Young people do what they always do: Bringing in new energy and insights, in this case ideas that will be part of the reconstruction and future of the Ukrainian agricultural sector. Excited about novel crops and cooperation between Ukraine and the Netherlands, or would you like to connect to the groups working on their new ideas for Ukrainian agriculture? Please let us know!

Update from the covered cultivation cluster

At the beginning of this year, the covered cultivation cluster compiled a comprehensive market report as a guide for Dutch entrepreneurs in protected cultivation to get started in this sector. Ukraine’s covered cultivation sector is diverse. Alongside a relatively small group of modern high-tech companies, there is a much larger group of low- and mid-tech growers facing different challenges. The needs assessment and subsequent discussions indicate that modernisation is therefore not just a matter of introducing new technology. Knowledge and training, energy efficiency, cultivation practices, entrepreneurship and cooperation also play an important role. This may offer opportunities for Dutch companies and knowledge organisations, provided that solutions are aligned with the practical needs and realities of Ukrainian growers.

Over the past months, the findings of the needs assessment have been further discussed and validated, including at GreenTech Amsterdam, in Ukraine and through online discussions with Dutch and Ukrainian stakeholders. The next step is to identify more clearly which needs are widely recognised, where concrete collaboration can add value, and which parties are interested in contributing. Does your organisation have relevant knowledge, practical experience or solutions that could support the development of Ukraine’s covered cultivation sector, and would you like to contribute to possible next steps? Please contact the Agrifood Platform Ukraine and join the covered cultivation cluster.