Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

PrivatBank and Limagrain Launch Financing Programs for Farmers

State-owned PrivatBank and Limagrain, one of the world’s largest seed companies, have launched two partnership financing programs for agricultural producers ahead of the fall planting season, the bank’s press service reported.

“We are expanding financing options and offering farmers new tools that are more effective and convenient, given the specific nature of agricultural production,” the press service quoted Mykhailo Kovalov, head of PrivatBank’s Department of Documentary Operations and Trade Finance, as saying.
According to the announcement, farmers can take advantage of a working capital financing program to purchase seeds and a promissory note program, which allows for flexible payment planning and optimizes the financial burden on the farm.

The bank noted that both programs offer preferential financing terms as well as a simplified application process.
For more details on the loan terms, please contact Limagrain Ukraine managers or visit your nearest PrivatBank branch.

Limagrain—a seed company founded by farmers in France over 50 years ago—ranks fourth in the global seed industry. The company has been operating in Ukraine since 2008. The main crops it breeds include corn, sunflower, rapeseed, spring and winter wheat, and spring and winter barley (for feed and brewing). The company’s global network of branches spans 56 countries. Each year, the company invests approximately 14% of its revenue in research.

PrivatBank is Ukraine’s largest bank. According to the National Bank, the financial institution’s total assets as of June 1, 2026, amounted to 965.11 billion UAH (22.7% of the total).
The state-owned bank noted that, according to regular Brand Health Tracking surveys for the first quarter of 2026, the level of trust in it is higher than that of other financial institutions on the market and stands at 49%. The bank attributes this to the availability of accessible, personalized, and digitized products for its customers.

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Raiffeisen Bank granted “Pan Kurchak” 350 mln hryvnia loan

Raiffeisen Bank has granted the “Pan Kurchak” group a 350 million hryvnia loan to rebuild a factory destroyed by a fire in 2024; 50% of the loan risk is covered by a guarantee from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) under the Extended Guarantee of the RSF Ukraine Investment Facility.

According to a correspondent for the “Interfax-Ukraine” news agency, the relevant documents were signed on the sidelines of the URC 2026 Conference on Ukraine’s Recovery, which took place in Gdańsk on June 25–26.

According to the report, the loan will be used to reconstruct the plant and install modern, energy-efficient equipment. The project is expected to strengthen the company’s position in the domestic market and enhance its operational resilience.

This is the first project to benefit from the new RSF Extended Guarantee.

As previously reported, the “Pan Kurchak” agro-industrial group was founded in 2001. It is engaged in crop cultivation, the production and sale of compound feed, broiler and pig breeding, and meat processing.

The agribusiness group includes “Western Agrarian Company” (which cultivates 16.7 thousand hectares), “Agrotechnika” LLC (which operates two compound feed mills, an oilseed processing plant, and four grain elevators), “Agidel” LLC (which maintains a parent flock of poultry with a production capacity of 32 million eggs and a broiler complex for 10,000 birds), VMP LLC (processes meat, produces sausage products and semi-finished meat products), Gubin Poultry Complex LLC (operates six farms with an annual capacity of 14 million head of poultry). All of the group’s production facilities are located in the Volyn region.

“Pan Kurchak” also operates a chain of branded stores called “M’yasna Tochka” and “Smarty” (Ukrainian Retail Networks LLC).

According to the Unified State Register of Legal Entities and Individual Entrepreneurs, the group is owned by Serhiy and Ivanna Martyniak.

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EBRD launches New Horizons program for innovation in Ukrainian agribusiness

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved the New Horizons technical cooperation program aimed at stimulating innovative investments in Ukraine’s agri-food system, the bank’s press service reported.

The project is expected to become a key tool for restoring the national economy and accelerating the European integration of agribusiness, the EBRD noted.

According to the project description, the program is focused on supporting businesses that implement advanced technologies in food production and agriculture.

The key areas of the New Horizons program are stimulating investment based on a combination of industry analytics and mapping opportunities for informed investment decisions; supporting high-potential segments by supporting areas such as alternative protein production and sustainable intensive agricultural production.

In addition, the project aims to establish international cooperation, in particular between Ukrainian businesses and leading international research and development (R&D) institutions, to strengthen innovation potential. It is expected that selected Ukrainian enterprises will be provided with audit and innovation screening services to identify opportunities for modernizing their business processes.

The program also includes a review of the Ukrainian agrotech sector’s compliance with EU requirements for food safety, sustainable development, and digital trade standards.

The research results and innovation opportunities will be presented to Ukrainian companies during a special knowledge-sharing event that will bring together technology developers, startups, and large agribusinesses.

The EBRD is the largest institutional investor in Ukraine. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the bank has directed more than EUR 8.5 billion to the country to support energy security, critical infrastructure, food security, trade, and the private sector.

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AgriAcademy has launched free course on biosecurity to combat African swine fever

AgriAcademy, a professional online course platform for agribusiness, announces the launch of a new free online course, ‘Biosecurity for Hunting Farms’, developed by experts from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in response to one of the most serious threats to livestock and food security – African swine fever (ASF).

African swine fever remains one of the key biological risks for Ukraine. The virus is highly resistant in the environment and circulates continuously among wild boar populations, posing a constant threat to domestic livestock, hunting farms and related sectors.

That is why FAO experts have developed a specialised training course based on international experience in combating ASF, adapted to Ukrainian realities and wartime conditions.

What the course is about

The course focuses on the practical aspects of biosecurity for hunting farms in Ukraine, using ASF control as an example. It examines in detail the logical and effective sequence of actions applied in EU countries and other regions of the world:

  1. stopping the epidemic wave to prevent further spread of the virus;
  2. promoting the natural mortality of the virus to reduce the density of the infected population;
  3. controlling and reducing the residual population after its collapse to avoid a re-emergence.

Who is this course for

The training is designed for:

  • users of hunting grounds;
  • employees of the hunting and forestry industries;
  • veterinary specialists;
  • representatives of local communities and management bodies.

Practical outcome for participants

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

  • implement biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of ASF;
  • develop strategies to contain and eliminate the disease;
  • assess the risks of virus spread and organise safe carcass disposal;
  • effectively communicate and coordinate actions between hunters, veterinarians and communities.

Training format

The course includes video lectures, analytical materials, practical tools, real-life case studies and a final test. Training is conducted online in a convenient 24/7 mode.

Course author and lecturer

Oleksandr Revnivtsev, FAO international consultant on animal husbandry.

Training on the course is free and open to all registered users of the AgriAcademy platform.

Participants can study the materials online at their convenience, without time restrictions, and after successfully completing the final test, they will receive a certificate.

As a reminder, AgriAcademyis a free online learning platform created on the initiative of the EBRD as part of its food security support programme in Ukraine. Its goal is to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainable development of agriculture, which has suffered significant losses due to the war.

The creation and management of the platform (including the development of courses, training tours, etc.) is carried out with the support and funding of the EBRD, as well as:

  • The EBRD’s Multilateral Donor Account for Stabilisation and Sustainable Growth in Ukraine (donors: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union as the largest donor);
  • The Republic of Ireland through the EBRD Small Business Promotion Fund (other donors to the fund: Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Taipei China and the United States);
  • The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

The AgriAcademy website currently offers over 30 free online courses for Ukrainian agribusiness professionals. Register and take courses at your convenience!

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AgriAcademy has launched free courses for farmers

On November 19–20, 2025, Kyiv became the center of discussion on the future of food security and technological development in the agricultural sector. In parallel with the AgroExpo 2025 exhibition, the IV International Conference “Food from Ukraine” was held, organized by the Ministry of Economy, Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Ukraine in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Federation of Employers of Ukraine, with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The large-scale exhibition and business forum brought together those who are shaping the future of the agricultural sector: from representatives of the EU, G7, African countries, and the Global South to Ukrainian government officials, leaders of industry associations, manufacturers of machinery and equipment, and companies in the domestic food industry. It was a space where international diplomacy, innovative business, and science came together in direct dialogue. The organizers set themselves an ambitious goal: to show the world that the Ukrainian agricultural sector, despite the challenges of war, remains a driver of innovation. That is why special attention was focused on demonstrating modern technologies in production and processing, new solutions in agricultural engineering, and promoting Ukrainian food products to global markets.

Education has become a critical element linking technology, business, and practical development in the agricultural sector. That is why, for the first time, the exhibition featured the capabilities of AgriAcademy, a free online platform for agricultural education and certified online courses from leading Ukrainian and international experts. AgriAcademy.org is a free online learning platform for agricultural workers and students of agricultural education institutions, launched by the EBRD in December 2022 as part of its food security support program in Ukraine. Its goal is to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainable development of agriculture, which has suffered significant losses due to the war.

AgriAcademy as a navigational beacon amid technology, innovation, and the challenges of war

Visitors to the exhibition could see AgriAcademy information banners with QR codes that led directly to the course catalog. This format attracted considerable attention—farmers actively tested the QR codes, photographed the banners, and many participants learned for the first time about the possibility of certified free training in Ukrainian.

The AgriAcademy team handed out flyers with direct links to certified courses, and this simplicity of interaction became an advantage: specialists from various companies were able to register on the spot without delay.

According to many participants, today, when the industry is experiencing a shortage of personnel and technologies are changing faster than businesses can adapt, quality education is no longer an option — it is a necessity for recovery and growth.

Why interest in AgriAcademy is growing

After the war began, thousands of agricultural workers lost access to structured forms of training. AgriAcademy has become the answer to this problem — a platform that provides:

  • over 30 certified courses for agribusiness,
  • free access,
  • new materials from leading Ukrainian and international experts and companies,
  • flexible online learning,
  • official certificates after passing tests.

You can register and take courses here: https://agriacademy.org/courses-catalog/

The training programs cover areas such as crop production, berry growing, horticulture, agronomy, irrigation, animal husbandry, crop processing, organic production, and sustainable development.

By the end of 2026, AgriAcademy plans to launch 20 new courses that meet current market demands.

“Grow with us — with AgriAcademy!”

This message, present at the exhibition, became a key reminder that the future of agribusiness is impossible without continuous learning.

The labor shortage, which is getting worse every year, requires investment not only in technology but also in people. Companies that work with modern knowledge are more efficient, productive, and competitive.

AgriAcademy – training that works for results

  • Free: all courses are available to farmers
  • Convenient: 24/7 from any device
  • Expert: teachers are leading Ukrainian specialists
  • Practical: programs are designed for real business needs
  • Certified: official certificate after passing the test

Go to training:

https://agriacademy.org/courses-catalog/

AgriAcademy is a free online training platform created on the initiative of the EBRD as part of its food security support program in Ukraine. Its goal is to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainable development of agriculture, which has suffered significant losses due to the war.

The platform’s creation and management (including course development, training tours, etc.) is supported and funded by the EBRD, as well as:

  • The EBRD’s Multilateral Donor Account for Stabilisation and Sustainable Growth in Ukraine (donors: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union as the largest donor);
  • The Republic of Ireland through the EBRD Small Business Facility (other donors to the facility: Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Taipei China, and the United States);
  • The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

 

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COMMBINE 2025 is main agromarketing event of year!

July 11 | Kyiv

Every day, agribusiness is adapting to a new reality – reduced budgets, information overload, unstable logistics. And it is marketing, PR and content that are becoming tools for survival and growth.

That’s why we’re bringing together the best of the best for COMMBINE 2025:

a conference for marketers, communicators, brand owners, creators and everyone who promotes agriculture in the conditions of “permanent turbulence”.

The program includes:

25+ speakers – about TikTok, branding, PR, and fakaps

200+ participants – marketers, farmers, bloggers

1000+ ideas for advertising, field events, and content

12 hours of live networking and agri-brainstorming

COMMBINE 2025 is a field where ideas germinate.

Details and registration: commbine.fun

WEBSITE:

COMMBINE 2025: the main agromarketing event of the year – already on July 11 in Kyiv!

The agricultural sector continues to adapt to the new reality: reduced budgets, unstable logistics, dynamic markets, and information overload. In this situation, agromarketers, communicators, creatives, and PR specialists are coming up with new ways to turn challenges into opportunities every day.

That is why Aggeek Agency and Agro Marketing Agency are gathering leading market players for the agromarketing conference COMMODITY 2025, which will be held on July 11 in Kyiv.

COMMBINE 2025 is a field where ideas germinate, tools are tested, strategies are developed, and a community is formed that is able to lead agribusiness forward – even in turbulent times. Here people speak frankly, share their experience, joke about the budget and… make money.

The program:

25+ speakers – agro-evangelists of content, brands, reputation, and data

200+ participants – marketers, farmers, owners, media professionals, bloggers

1000+ ideas for promotional campaigns, branding, SMM and field events

12 hours of networking, coffee, craft thinking and joint agri-brainstorming

Key topics:

Agromarketing in conditions of permanent instability

How to talk to a farmer so that he can hear

TikTok, YouTube, Insta – which platforms work in the field

Agribranding: where to start and how to keep the style

Content plans and creativity in the season “without a budget”

PR without illusions: reputation in agriculture is not born in a day

Anti-cases and facts that are not written about on LinkedIn

COMMBINE 2025 is for those who:

promotes an agribusiness, product or brand

builds communication within an agricultural company

creates content, manages pages, organizes events

looking for inspiration, new approaches and useful contacts

Don’t miss it! If you want to harvest more than just a crop, you are welcome at KOMMBINE 2025.

Date: July 11, 2025

Location: Kyiv

Details and registration: https://commbine.fun/

 

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