Business news from Ukraine

In the context of the war, Ukrainian dairy farms are facing an acute shortage of staff. Forced migration, mobilization of workers, and reduced opportunities for professional training have created serious challenges for the development of the industry.

This was stated during the XVII International Dairy Congress by Valery Lototsky, associate professor of the Department of Animal Reproductology at Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University, head and co-founder of the AVM Advisory Center and Veterinary Service Centers, and AgriAcademy expert.

The International Dairy Congress, organized by the Association of Milk Producers (AMP), is the most powerful event of the year in the dairy industry. This year, it brought together hundreds of leading industry representatives: producers, scientists, and businesspeople to exchange experiences and the latest achievements in the dairy business.

“Today, dairy farm managers are forced not only to maintain production, but also to invest in knowledge to compensate for staff shortages and adapt their work to European requirements for animal welfare and product safety,” the expert emphasized.

That is why, in November 2025, the educational platform AgriAcademy will launch a new certified online course, “Best Practices for Cattle Welfare and Responsible Use of Antibiotics to Prevent the Development of Antibiotic Resistance.”

Three key risk periods and how to control them

The author of the course, Valery Lototsky, notes that the training will help farm workers understand where mistakes are most often made when using antimicrobial drugs and how to avoid them.

The course covers three critical stages in cattle breeding:

• The transition period for cows – 21 days before and after calving: preparation for calving, prevention of postpartum diseases;
• Rearing young stock – from birth to 8 months, with a particularly sensitive period up to two months of age;
• Lactation period – prevention and treatment of mastitis.

“During the third module, participants will learn to identify critical points for the onset of mastitis, follow the milking protocol, select the right antibiotics, and develop their own treatment and prevention plan,” said Valery Lototsky.

AgriAcademy is a free platform that is changing agricultural education

AgriAcademy is a modern online platform for agribusiness, created in 2022 by the EBRD. It is a free online training platform for agricultural workers and students of agricultural education institutions, launched by the EBRD in December 2022 as part of a program to support food security in Ukraine. Its goal is to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainable development of agriculture, which has suffered significant losses due to the war.

Today, the platform offers 28 online courses – over 300 hours of practical training in agronomy, management, technology, processing, storage, and more. Each course includes a test of the students’ knowledge.

The creation and management of the platform (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 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 Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Today, the platform offers:

• 30+ online courses and over 300 hours of practical training;
• topics ranging from agronomy and management to processing and storage technologies;
• certificates upon completion of courses;
• free access at any time for farmers, students, and professionals.

AgriAcademy is not just about learning. It is a response to the challenge facing the Ukrainian agricultural sector: how to preserve and develop human capital in times of war. Choose a course and grow with us!