The main focus of the project CraftUP Ukraine is support of craft food producers of Ukraine towards establishing and scaling up their production while preserving regional and authentic features.
Beeld: © AgroPortal
The project is executed by the online publication AgroPortal.ua in cooperation with the Government of the Netherlands in the framework of the (PSD) private sector development program of RVO. Project page CraftUP Ukraine | Project Database CMS
About the project
Implementation
Result 1: Conducting market research to assess the problems and needs of craft producers. Survey to identify barriers to business development and legalization.
Result 2: Development and launch of tailor-made educational program (based on the outcome of the survey) . Training f.e. in business registration, financial planning, marketing and certification.
Result 3: Mentoring support. Personal consultations on market entry, certification and business strategy
Result 4: Financial support for craft producers. Co-financing of equipment, certification or marketing.
Result 5: Facilitation of the establishment of the Craft Producers organization.
Duration:
January - December 2026
Beeld: © https://agroportal.ua/
Launch of the project
2025.12.11- in the framework of the XVII International Conference "Doing Agribusiness in Ukraine" (#DoAgro25), AgroPortal.ua together with the Agricultural Office of the Netherlands Embassy in Ukraine launched the CraftUP project at the stand with the products from the vilages from all over Ukraine. Watch video of the stand More in Ukrainian on the site of AgroPortal.ua
Beeld: © https://agroportal.ua/
Result 1: Market research + Expert Interviews
During January - March 2026 the project team conducted the nationwide research on legalization barriers, market access and financing. An analytical report will follow, along with an education and mentoring phase (March–July 2026). The most promising projects will receive funding for scaling, certification or market expansion.
The expert interview to AgroPortal.ua present the current state of affairs in the craft sector of Ukraine and contribute to the project research on the bottlenecks. Follow the link to read the interviews
Beeld: © https://agroportal.ua/
Result 1A: Presentation of the market research on craft food market of Ukraine
On March 19, in Kyiv, the online publication AgroPortal.ua, together with the company Pro-Consulting and with the support of the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, presented the results of market research of craft food products in Ukraine. The market research has been condicted to assess the problems and needs of craft producers, to identify barriers to business development and legalization.
The presentation was the conclusion of the Result 1 of project CraftUP Ukraine, the purpose of which is to support craft food producers at the stage of business establishment and development. The market research has been condicted to assess the problems and needs of craft producers, to identify barriers to business development and legalization.
Read more CraftUP Ukraine: presentation of the first result of the project
CraftUP Ukraine: results of the study of the craft food market — AgroPortal.ua
CraftUP Ukraine: research of the craft market was presented in Kyiv - AgroPortal.ua
Beeld: © CraftUP Ukraine
Result 2: Development and launch of tailor-made educational program (based on the outcome of the survey)
In the framework of implementation of the research (Result 1) more than 400 small-scale producers from all over Ukraine have been interviewed. This study identified the key needs of craft producers and the barriers hindering their growth. Additional project coordinators had the intake interviews with selected 40 producers representing 19 regions of Ukraine to understand which issues in their work required immediate attention and support.
The largest number of participants come from the Lviv and Dnipropetrovsk regions. They represent diverse production sectors, including meat and dairy processing, beverages, beekeeping products, oils and flour, fruit and vegetable processing, confectionery, and aquaculture.
In addition to their varied fields of activity, the participants differ in scale: some already have a finished product and are actively selling, while others are just starting out and have not yet registered their production operations.
Beeld: © CraftUP Ukraine
Result 2.B - Training
Based on the interviews the educational program consisting of 15 lectures have been developed. The lecture curriculum is structured to facilitate progressive learning—moving from foundational knowledge to strategic production development and entry into new markets. Participants can choose the lectures that best suit their current level and specific needs.
The on-line training program last from May till the end of July. The records of the training are availabe for all participants who are free to choose the order of the lecture as well as the topics they are interested in. Each lecture had extensive Q&A sessions. According to its results of the training program, 10 CraftUP producers have been selected for individual mentoring sessions.
Read more:
CraftUP Ukraine: 40 producers completed training on craft business development — AgroPortal.ua
Result 3: Mentoring support. Personal consultations.
According to its results of the training program, 10 CraftUP producers have been selected for individual mentoring sessions.
Read more: CraftUP Ukraine: 10 Finalists Selected for the Grant Programme — AgroPortal.ua
- Turkey-Leg Jamón — a Unique Product for the Ukrainian Market — AgroPortal.ua
- Cold-Pressed Oil and Macerates: How Processing Changes the Economics of a Walnut Orchard — AgroPortal.ua
- Craft Producer in Kharkiv Region Brews Beer with a Taste of the Middle Ages — AgroPortal.ua
- Pesto with Pumpkin Seeds: How to Turn Surplus Basil into a Popular Sauce — AgroPortal.ua
- Ukrainian Wine with Character, or How Odesa Region Is Securing Its Place on the World Wine Map — AgroPortal.ua
- How the Only Stone Mill in a Zhytomyr Region Community Is Developing — AgroPortal.ua
- 20% Reduction in Production Costs: How Beekeepers Plan to Make Production Cheaper — AgroPortal.ua
- How a Craft Producer from Kyiv Region Is Taking Adjika Production to a New Level — AgroPortal.ua
- Bitter Apples for Cider, Sweet Ones for Juice: How Apple Orchards Are Made Profitable in Zakarpattia — AgroPortal.ua
- Production of Ukraine’s Only Ice Cream Made from Fresh Milk Increased by 20%. What Makes It Special? — AgroPortal.ua
Olha Zubyk, Longo Mai — freshly pressed juices, apple cider vinegar, and cider, Zakarpattia Region 
Viktoriia Lukashova, Funny Bear — ice cream production, Vinnytsia Region 
Viktoriia Nahorna, Nahornykh Family Mill — stone-ground flour production, Zhytomyr Region 
Ivan Marakhonko — Georgian adjika and fermented sauces, Kyiv Region 
Iryna Karabut, Medunytsia — honey processing and beekeeping products, Dnipropetrovsk Region 
Petro Skrypnyk — cold-pressed oils, macerates, and flour production, Rivne Region 
Olena Abramova, Dvir Indychky — meat products, Poltava Region 
Viktor Yesipov, Dwarf Brewery — craft beverages (beer and kvass), Kharkiv Region 
Mykhailo Prokopets, Vynologist — winemaking, Odesa Region 
Anton Korolchuk, Green Clover — hydroponic basil cultivation and sauce production, Khmelnytskyi Region
Beeld: © Agroportal
Result 4: Financial support for craft producers. Co-financing of equipment, certification or marketing.
On September 15 an important milestone of the educational and grant project CraftUP Ukraine, supported by the Dutch government took place in the shelter in Kyiv. Ten finalists presented their business projects to an expert council and received grants to develop and scale up their craft businesses.
All participants successfully completed the project’s training and mentorship program. This meeting served as more than just an opportunity to select the best candidates and award the winners - it brought together craft producers from different regions of Ukraine. Although they work with diverse products and vary in experience and business scale, they often face similar challenges—such as food safety, search for funding and expertise, entering new markets, exporting, and dialogue with government authorities. Addressing these issues alone is far more difficult.
The project once again highlighted the need for craft producers to unite. A community, however, can serve as a platform for sharing experience and contacts, providing mutual support, jointly identifying opportunities, and representing the interests of the craft sector.
First place and a grant of UAH 350,000 went to Iryna Karabut, co-owner of the "Medunytsia" family apiary in Dnipropetrovsk region. The funds will be used to purchase a commercial vehicle, enabling the apiary to scale up operations and expand its sales reach.
CraftUP Ukraine awards grants to 10 craft businesses
CraftUP Ukraine: Finalists Presented Their Business Projects and Received Grants — AgroPortal.ua
Together Means More: How a Community Can Open New Opportunities for Craft Producers — AgroPortal.ua
Beeld: © https://agroportal.ua/
CraftUP Ukraine Producers to Join Ukraine’s Living Map of Flavours
Participants of the CraftUP Ukraine educational and grant project will be able to present their products and stories on Foodture Ukraine — Ukraine’s living map of flavours.
As part of the information partnership with AgroPortal.ua, participants of the CraftUP Ukraine project will also appear on the living map of flavours. They will be able to talk not only about their own products, but also about the place where they make them, local recipes, traditions and personal stories associated with the product.
The interactive map will feature three types of geotags: local recipes, memories associated with them, and craft producers operating in a particular region.
While working on the project Foodture Ukraine, its creators, Maryna Bura and Tetiana Saturmina, realised that the gastronomic history of a region cannot be told through recipes and memories alone. It is also important to showcase the people who are creating local products today. Read more CraftUP Ukraine Producers to Join Ukraine’s Living Map of Flavours — AgroPortal.ua
Project background
Initially the project Incredible Villages of Ukraine launched in 2016 by the on-line publication AgroPortal.ua was aimed at the development of green tourism in Ukraine, however very soon the high potential in the development of the entrepreneurship in rural areas was discovered. Local communities from all over Ukraine took part into competitions and a network "Incredible villages" became a trend in Ukraine. The competition of the villages resulted in more than 100 application annually.
Since 2018 when the Embassy became the partner of competition Incredible villages in Ukraine, a number of Dutch companies in Ukraine became the partners of villages – participants, among them are suppliers of planting material, processing equipment and knowledge advisers.
In 2020 the the COVID challenged the organizers and participants of Incredible villages and the project went on-line - the platform Incredible Craft Bag was created whether the craft producers from all over Ukraine presented their products.
With the full-scale invasion in 2022 the importance of the local production in rural areas became absolutely clear since it largely contributed to the regional food security and economic stability. Despite the turbulent times the project went mainly thanks to the villages that were full of energy to develop.
Throughout 2025 the team of AgroPortal.ua together with the Office of the agricultural counsellor at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine developed the project #CraftUP Ukraine which will will promote the development of the local private sector, creating conditions for the legalization and scaling up of craft producers. Through educational programs and mentoring support, entrepreneurs will improve their skills in financial management, marketing, and production standardization, which will allow them to work more efficiently and integrate into global business chains.