Welcoming speeches from the founders of the media group "Technologies and Innovations" Kateryna KONEVA and Nadia Yashchuk were meaningful.

 

- The conference motto during the martial law is unchanged "We Learn to Win." Working enterprises that provide jobs, pay taxes, and help the country in such a difficult time bring invaluable contributions and deserve the highest honor, was noted the co-founder of the media group "Technologies and Innovations" Kateryna Konyeva. It should be noted that since the beginning of the war, all conferences organized by the media group "Technologies and Innovations" have traditionally been charitable.

 

 

Moreover, Kateryna Konyeva noted that all participants can participate in a charity auction of goods and services presented by our partner companies to raise funds for the warriors of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In addition, we aim to support the Kharkiv Fruit Company. Before the beginning of full-scale war, it was a very powerful company that was almost destroyed by the invaders. Despite the destruction, the company is trying to revive itself and needs our support. It makes sense why we call to help KFC if you have seedlings, fertilizers, plant protection products, etc. During the conference, the charity auction of goods and services was traditionally organized together with the "Strong and Free" Charitable Foundation, the director Tetyana SMIRNOVA.

 

Moreover, Kateryna Konyeva noted that all participants can participate in a charity auction of goods and services presented by our partner companies to raise funds for the warriors of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In addition, we aim to support the Kharkiv Fruit Company. Before the beginning of full-scale war, this enterprise was a very powerful company that was almost destroyed by the invaders. Despite the destruction, the company is trying to revive itself and needs our support. It makes sense why we call to help KFC if you have seedlings, fertilizers, plant protection products, etc. The charity auction of goods and services was traditionally organized together with the "Strong and Free" Charitable Foundation, the director Tetyana SMIRNOVA.

 

Tetyana Smirnova emphasized the following charitable joint auction took place for the 6th time. And, the situation in Ukraine, above all, taught us to be proud of the fact that we are Ukrainians. I thank everyone for what you do, but I appreciate the support of the media group "Technologies and Innovations" for the idea of holding such charitable events during scientific and practical conferences. The founder of the media group, Kateryna Koneva got a special certificate of appreciation. 

 

The guest of honor, the agricultural attaché of the Embassy of Germany in Ukraine, Frank MÜLLER, welcomed participants as well.

 

Frank MÜLLER noted that even before the full-scale war, Germany had many projects with Ukraine that still kept going on, but the full-scale invasion of russia forced us to support Ukraine even more. In particular, part of our support today is a joint project in the fruit and vegetable sector in the Vinnytsia region. We want to help Vinnytsia in particular and Ukraine overall in developing this sector. Germany observes with great respect how Ukraine and Ukrainian entrepreneurs remain strong despite all circumstances. You not only face daily challenges, but you also continue to evolve in the condition of wartime. As a result - the international, charitable, scientific-practical Conference "Successful Horticulture, Vegetable Growing and Processing: Technologies and Innovations. We Learn to Win!" It makes me very happy if our project makes a big contribution to this event and to the development of Ukraine overall.

 

 

More than 200 participants from almost all of Ukraine including Italy took part at the 9th International Charitable Scientific and Practical Conference "Successful Horticulture, Vegetable Growing and Processing: Technologies and Innovations. We Learn to Win!" About 40 companies introduced advanced technologies, equipment, and tools for plant protection and nutrition, among which were EFT PLUS, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine, Makita Ukraine, Agritema, Rhodonite Agro, Eucalyptus P, Vitera Ukraine, Ukravit, Biochem Agro, enterprise BS Kovach, "Insolar - Kholod", "ProfPolyv", SOK "Dary Beregivschyny", BASF, "Ralko Technik", "TIMAK AGRO UKRAINE", "FruTech", "Klioma Service", Advocacy Association "SETES", "Novosad", "Sorter-Pak", "De Camp Ukraine", "For Crop", "Summit-Agro Ukraine", "Sad OK", BTU CENTER, "Agrostar ", "Ramos", Ukrainian Agricultural Consulting Center, "SmartAgro", "IKARAI Ukraine", "Mas Systems", Makosh, "4 Stuhii", "100 Service", "Vodovid." Conference participants and partners came from various regions of Ukraine, including Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Kyiv, etc.

 

The conference was held with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine, the Major Business Conference Partner.

 

The media group "Technologies and Innovations" has been holding specialized conferences for the horticultural and berry sector since 2016. So, this is already the 32nd conference and the 6th charitable one organized during wartime. 

 

 

 

During the conference, a discussion panel was on the relevant topic "Ukrainian Horticulture and Vegetable Growing in Wartime Conditions. Season 2023: Results and Conclusions." Volodymyr PECHKO, head of the public union "UKRSADVYNPROM" has been the moderator of the discussion panel. The discussion panel included USAID project representative Serhiy OSTAPETS, director of Vinnytsyasadvinprom corporation Serhiy BOYCHUK, director of Fruktona-VN company Kostyantyn KUZMENKO. The participants talked about the opportunities of receiving budget support for the horticulture, viticulture, and processing industry, the necessity of growing products of horticultural and vegetable groups with a focus on export, production diversification, the perspective and possibilities of making fruit wine and distillates, etc.

 

Most notably, one of the key issues discussed by the participants of the discussion panel concerned state support for the agricultural sector of Ukraine and the functioning of the government`s grant program. According to Serhiy Ostapets, an expert on the implementation of grants of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, currently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food has issued 159 orders for receiving grants, among them 131 orders - related to plant orchards and berry fields, and 28 orders - the building of greenhouses.  

 

 

Serhiy Ostapets told us that 734 million hryvnias are the total amount of these grants, and this program keeps working. Moreover, the Ministry of Agriculture listens to farmers and makes appropriate changes. In particular, changes have now been made regarding the number of employees to receive a grant for the development of greenhouses, at least 4 permanent and 10 seasonal employees should be hired. In addition, in order to effectively use budget funds, the list of areas for almond cultivation has been shortened. Thus, the Odesa region has been determined to be optimal in terms of natural and climatic conditions.

 

The issue of proper organization of a fruit and vegetable growing business does not lose its agenda among representatives of the professional community. Therefore, this topic was under rough discussion and included many speeches. Hence, the director of the Rosetta Agro company, co-organizer of the Resilient Ukraine cluster, Valeriy LYSHYNSKY, told us about the prospects in the horticultural industry, which are opening due to the Resilient Ukraine project in cooperation with Dutch companies.

 

Valeriy Lyashynskyi, in his speech, told us that at the beginning of the war, everyone rushed to charity for the delivery of humanitarian goods. But over time, we understand one thing people need to be given a fishing rod not only fish. That`s why we created a platform where we want to provide an opportunity to exchange not only knowledge or contacts but also to give useful information for farmers, in particular, through the organization of field days, training, webinars, etc. If you have a wish to contact the Dutch sector, you can contact us, and we will help you. Our mission is to give hope and understanding that things will get better. When the war ends, we should be ready to go to Europe.

 

Andriy FEDYK, director of Harvest Center, analyzed the current state and prospects for developing of agricultural cooperation in Ukraine. The industry cluster of fruit, vegetable, and berry processing with export potential was introduced by Yuriy PASICHNYK, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor, Chief Researcher of the Department of Socio-Economic Development of Rural Areas of the National Research Center "Institute of Agrarian Economics" of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. According to Yuriy Pasichnyk, Europe is the largest import region of canned fruits and vegetables, for more than 70% of total world imports. European imports of canned fruit and vegetables increased in value by an average of 2.4% per year during 2015-2019. Almost 90% of imports come to Europe from economically developing countries. In the next five years, the European canned fruit and vegetable market is likely growing at an annual growth rate of 1-2%. The main reasons for the expected market growth are innovations that lead to the canning technology improvement. We may suppose the increase in research costs and developments related to the launch of healthier foods, better Nutri-score labeling, and a variety of convenience (ready-to-eat products). At the same time, the market growth will contribute to the distribution network expansion of canned food in Europe.

 

Innovative horticulture due to mathematical algorithms? Erika SHAPOCHKA, a representative of the company "Fruit Consulting" told us about new opportunities for farmers. Horticulture is an art, and while working in the orchard, we need to apply all possible technological techniques and tools because current technologies make the process of growing fruit plants simpler and more productive. One of the best innovations is artificial intelligence (AI) to help grow better fruit. The most crucial problem for the farmer is that the correctness of any decision to accept or reject is highly dependent on us. 

 

 

While coming into the orchard, you evaluate its conditions and think about what decision to make in order to grow a better harvest. Another problem is how to reduce the cost price in terms of smaller financial investments and get the highest quality products at the end. It`s not less important to ensure product sales. That`s why we created a platform that helps farmers grow decent harvests of exportable apples. Thanks to the platform, you can be confident in the correctness of accepted decisions and the technological techniques applicable in the orchard. For example, we know that a certain plant preparation should be used in a certain situation within 72 hours of the onset of the infection. But how to determine this moment? With the help of AI, it`s becoming possible to see the beginning of plant infection. Thanks to this, you can reduce the costs of plant protection products and, accordingly, the product cost because high-quality grown fruits can be sold faster that is not a secret - a quality product sells itself. Serhiy RYABKOV, the scientific consultant of the enterprise "Vodovid" told the conference participants about the use of unproductive grounds for berry growing and horticulture. Is a soil audit necessary for this reason? The answer to this question, as well as recommendations during the speech, was given by an agronomist-expert in the cultivation of fruit and berry crops of Makosh company, Vitaly KIZYAN.

 

The General Director of the company "FruTech", Serhiy ZMEICHUK got acquainted with new varieties of berry crops that appeared in the Ukrainian market. Anna SAKHONCHYK, an expert in fruit growing, presented a Ukrainian-German professional dialogue on the development of fruit and vegetable growing. The project "Ukrainian-German Professional Dialogue", according to the speaker, is aimed at the development of the vegetable growing industry in the Vinnytsia region. 

 

 

The project is financed by the Ministry of Agriculture of Germany and with the support of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Agriculture of Ukraine. The project "Ukrainian-German Professional Dialogue" is aimed at service improvement, professional education, and training. Project participants will be working on improving specialists` preparation in the field of fruit and vegetable growing. A training program will be developed based on the Illinois Agricultural College, in particular for advanced training teachers, so that there are more specialists in the field of fruit and vegetable growing. The organization of an advisory service for fruit and vegetable growing at the Illinets Agricultural College is also scheduled. The project was founded on January 1, 2023, and will be lasting for 3 years. Anna SAKHONCHYK, also analyzed multi-conductor systems for growing fruit trees, in particular, advantages and disadvantages.

 

 

 

A crucial thematic block: organization effective care for fruit and vegetable plantations. Moreover, now the harvesting is coming to an end and plantations should be effectively prepared for the winter period. Therefore, the speakers gave their recommendations based on many years of work experience and presented effective preparation that may help to avoid many problems. The preparations` portfolio for successful fruit and vegetable growing was introduced by the manager of "Biochem Agro" company (EFT Group, Main Technological Partner of the conference) Vasyl BONDAROVSKY. At the same time, the speaker paid attention to GIBB PLUS, GLOBARYLL, GIBB 3, DIFCOR, ALCOBAN, POLYVERSUM, HUWA SAN, BIOPOLIN, etc.

 

The GIBB PLUS plant growth regulator has been presenting on the Ukrainian market for the fourth year. That is a preparation for stimulating the growth of large fruits based on gibberellic acid GA 4/7. It is used mainly in apple and pear orchards to counteract night temperatures during the flowering tree periods. Notably, GIBB PLUS increases the number of ovaries during flowering, lengthens the shape of the fruit, and prevents the formation of a net picture on the fruit peel, which improves the marketable appearance of the apple. No doubt, you can achieve all these results only if you use it timely and properly. After all, like any hormone, it works under conditions of enough plant nutrition, as it gives a signal to the plant when and where needs to direct efforts, and no less important to use this growth regulator at the right time. If we are talking about apple or pear trees, GIBB PLUS should be applied in the second half of the growing season to get maximum effective work and fulfill all its tasks, was told by Vasyl Bondarovskyi.

 

Volodymyr VOYEVODIN, marketing manager of the BASF company, presented the fungicide of the new generation - Reviona ®, which was registered this year. It can be applied to many crops in horticulture, vegetable growing, and viticulture. It should be noted that the fungicide is registered for use on plums against scab, klasterosporiosis, and moniliosis; on grapes - against oidium and black rot; on cherries - against powdery mildew, moniliasis, coccomycosis, klasterosporiosis; on onions - against alternariosis and spots, as well as for working with apple tree, pear tree, tomato, and potato plantations. 

 

 

Valentyna YAMKOVA, the head of the Department of Science and Agrochemical Service of the "VITERA UKRAINE" company, how to use current biostimulants to influence vegetable and berry crop productivity.

 

Innovative preparations and plant-feeding systems were analyzed by Oleg DUBINA, director of development of the company "Rodonit Agro". Climate challenges in the season 2023 and the methods of combating them were told by Oleksandr BYKOVSKY, consultant for horticulture and berry growing of the Agritema company. Volodymyr SILENKO, the head of the support department of technologies of horticulture and vegetable growing BTU- CENTER company, analyzed microbial preparations. Vyacheslav POLISHCHUK, manager of technical support in horticulture of the Ukravit company, told us about crucial technological aspects of orchard protection. Andriy OSYKOVIY, the leading expert in horticulture of the "Summit-Agro Ukraine" company, delivered a speech about innovations in fungicide protection for orchards. 

 

 

 

Conferences organized by the media group "Technologies and Innovations" are attended by many participants every time and presented by both regular partners and those who are for the first time as well. Now, we are talking about the company IKARAI UKRAINE - a manufacturer of liquid special mineral fertilizers for foliar nutrition, with the line of its products.

 

Oleksandr ROZHKIVSKY, manager of IKARAI UKRAINE, confessed that that was his first time at a conference organized by the media group "Technologies and Innovations" and the event deeply impressed him not only the positive atmosphere but also massive useful information. Notably, that event let us get our potential customers. In general, everything went perfectly, and the conference has great potential.

 

 

Among the thematic diversity of the conference, the practical experience of successful development of enterprises takes a special place. Thus, the experience in diversifying production was revealed by the agronomist of the company "Agrana Fruit Luka" Maria Kislyachenko. She also told us what vegetables can be grown in the Vinnytsia region on the example of her own farm. The speaker also analyzed the nuances that arise in growing vegetables in greenhouses. 

 

The potato growing market in Ukraine, current technologies, and trends were analyzed by Viktor RYBALKO, representative of the farm "Adelaide." The farm`s potato plantations are located in the Kherson and Zhytomyr regions. Thus, the farm has experience working with various types of potatoes: seed potatoes, potato chips, early and late-ripening potatoes, and storage.

 

 

The speaker told us that the price of potatoes varies depending on the season. No doubt, the most unstable price for early potatoes. If we consider the pre-war period, the first potatoes appeared on the market around the first of May, and that wasn`t a mass-market product. The price of early potatoes is usually very high. What are the risks for those who want to grow it? First of all, that`s unstable prices, in other words, a significant fluctuation in the price of early potatoes as all depends on the supply and demand on that day. Thus, one day, the price can be UAH 100/kg, and on another - UAH 30/kg. Early potatoes, as a rule, are grown in greenhouses, which also has a significant effect on price forming.

 

 

The representative of the Italian company CORYLUS EST, Elio Ressia devoted his speech to the characteristics and agricultural techniques of hazelnut cultivation. Corylus Est is a consulting company for the agricultural sector, whose official representative in Ukraine is the firm "EFT Plus", our main technological partner of the conference.

According to Elio Ressia, the hazelnut is a specific nut crop, a bushy plant with deciduous leaves that is used growing in difficult weather and climate conditions. So, 95% of hazelnut varieties are fruiting in autumn. However, before selecting this crop to create a future nut orchard, farmers must study the climatic and soil conditions that are necessary for proper cultivation. After all, you cannot use the same technology in different places. As a result, the specialist recommends, first of all, conducting the necessary analysis of the soil, water, etc., in order to properly start growing this nut. In the first stages of growing hazelnuts, it`s important to clear the ground against weeds to let hazelnuts grow free. 

 

The conference participants also learned about the technologies of growing Chinese parsley, cilantro, and coriander through the presentation of Candidate of Agricultural Sciences Svitlana PETRENKO.

 

The speakers also paid attention to processing. In particular, the conference was attended by the co-owner of the Mriya Horticultural Society, Ivan DEGTYAR, who gladly shared his experience of developing a relocated business from the Donetsk region to the Poltava region. Moreover, the speaker marked the prospects of apple vinegar and juice production as a business.

 

Oleksandr KOVACH, the official representative of KOVODĚL JANČA in Ukraine, told the participants about the prospects of processing fruits and berries into distillates. Thus, Oleksandr Kovach noted that everyone who has large apple plantations understands that it`s crucial to process substandard fruits. As world experience shows, processing into distillates is enough promising direction. Apple alcohol is the kind of material that only gets better with time, as a result, it can be distilled and aged, and it becomes more expensive over time.

 

The conference organizers, the media group "Technologies and Innovations", are very thankful for the long-term partnership - Serhii NOVOSAD - for their help and assistance in organizing the conference. We value our collaboration with reliable partners and hope for further cooperation.

 

 

 

Traditionally, the speakers of the conference focused on the latest technologies, without which it`s impossible to build a successful business and achieve good and high-quality crops. We are talking about effective irrigation, specific equipment for processing, as well as post-harvest processing technologies, etc. The conference speakers deeply covered the issues related to the latest technologies in horticulture.

 

Thus, Vladyslav RAZKEVICH, co-owner of the company Eucalyptus P, analyzed precision irrigation systems in fruit and vegetable growing. The speaker noted that the company`s specialists also implement drip irrigation projects within the grant program that are currently available. 

 

Anatoliy BOGDAN, director of the Insolar-Kholod company, told the participants about high-quality product storage as a guarantee of successful sales.

 

 

The speaker focused on the issue that there is no universal refrigeration storage. You cannot store apples, berries, onions, or potatoes in the same refrigeration storage. Thus, a special storage/cold room must be designed according to a needed product type. A refrigeration system with exchange ventilation is the simplest unit and most suitable for short-term storage or for logistical purposes. At the same time, refrigeration systems with regulated gas environments are most suitable for apples, pears, etc.

 

Now, there is a trend in the world towards the total mechanization of all possible agrotechnical activities. This message was in the speech of Viktor KOLESNYK, the director of the Agrostar company, who analyzed the types of equipment for saving on manual labor. So, contour cutters are used in intensive apple orchards that allow you to reduce manual labor. Harvesting machines are allowing you to obtain a regular, high-quality harvest for the fresh market and export.

 

 

Meanwhile, a presentation and public tasting of NFC juice and other processing products, such as fruit pastilla, tomato sauces, cold-pressed natural oils, pumpkin candies, apple vinegar, and strong beverages, have been presented at the conference.

 

The following companies presented their NFC Juices: farm "Valentina", company "Sady Pidgaychyky" ((TM FAVORITE GARDEN FRUITS), farm "Prima" (TM "PAN NEDOBA"), farm "Elitfruit" (TM Sims Juice), company " Radishka" ("Radishka" TM), company "Agrokompleks" (Happy Apple TM), "Triada-MK" (Miriada fruits TM), "Veselyi Didus." It`s a traditional public tasting in support of those who produce high-quality, natural products. It should be noted, that these are the 5th national public tasting, organized by the media group "Technologies and Innovations", to promote natural products as a component of healthy nutrition and pay consumers` attention to a healthy lifestyle, which you can get from Ukrainian producers. The format of public tastings helps to highlight the extensive opportunities for processing fruits and berries business into natural drinks, which are still in demand on the market and have a strong export potential.

 

The Conference Participants Enjoyed the Public Tasting of NFC Juice.

 

Oleg DUBYNA, director of development of the company "Rodonit Agro", shared his impressions about the juice tasting. The large number of presented flavors was a surprise because the producers provided not only apple juices but also multi-component blends of fruits and vegetables. It`s wonderful that craft producers are appearing year after year in Ukraine. The buyer is always in profit from such a variety of tastes. In the future, we will be worthy competitors of European manufacturers. Personally, my favorite today is the apple-raspberry juice from the farm "Valentyna."

 

Other processing producers also presented their products: TM "Garbuzata Khata", Farm of ecological products "Schedri Lany", Horticultural Society "Mriya" (TM "Adamivka"), Strong Distillery, TM Lyubit Nashe.

 

Notably, the conference participants have been happy tasting craft products and directly talking with craft manufacturers. Having such a cozy, friendly atmosphere and positive communication, manufacturers got feedback about their products and found out consumers` requests and comments. Based on all the pros and cons, everyone who presented their products was able to analyze product recipes or production processes should be improved. Thanks to the presentations in a free-tasting format, there is an opportunity to find out the latest trends in the processing market and determine ways to develop your business, find new partners, etc. After all, the conference unites all players in the fruit and vegetable market - practical farmers, retailers, exporters, representatives of trade networks, etc.

 

 

 

During the conference, negotiation tables took place with USPA representatives - an international company whose key goal is to organize a supply chain directly from the farm to the customer in any corner of the world. Thus, all farmers had the great opportunity to get tips or answers on their issues about exporting their products and discuss urgent requests for further developing business.

 

Dmytro Kroshka, co-founder of USPA, highly estimated the format of the work that was taken by organizers of the IX International Charitable Scientific and Practical Conference "Successful Horticulture, Vegetable Growing, and Processing: Technologies and Innovations. We Learn to Win!" The speaker noted that he visited a lot of conferences, but this one is full of events, useful information, many interesting speakers, and fits for newcomers and advanced. With anticipate waiting for the next conferences and hope they will not lose this vibe and always keep an eye on current trends from our side we will always support such events. 

 

 

At the end of the conference, the 6th Charity Auction took place with the support of the "Strong and Free" Charitable Foundation. Raffled lots of products from our partners: "EFT Plus", "Makita Ukraine", "100 Service", farm "Valentina", BASF, "Summit-Agro Ukraine", "Rodonite Agro", "Vesely Didus", "Vitera Ukraine" ", "Mriya", "FruTech", hotel - restaurant complex "Gostevia". Moreover, certificates for subscription to a set of our journals were raffled off as well. The "Strong and Free" Charitable Foundation also provided its own lots. A total amount - 26,600 UAH was raised. These funds were delivered to buy heating pads and medicines to support our Armed Forces. We thank everyone who took part in it!

 

 

 

On October 27, all who wish to take part in the business tour visited the horticultural and processing company "Agrokompleks", as well as the enterprise for freezing fruit and berry and vegetable products "Fruktona VN", and the farm specialized in growing pears "Ivanivska Kalyna".

 

Firstly, the participants visited the "Agrocomplex" enterprise in the village of Trostyanets, Vinnytsia oblast, which covers about 40 hectares of apple orchards. We saw a lot of varieties presented there, for example, Gala, Red Chief, Champion, Jonagold, Renet Simyrenko, Golden Delicious, and Fuji. Moreover, "Agrocomplex" has its own fruit storage with a regulated gas environment, which can store up to 3,500 tons of apples, and the company produces single-component non-concentrated apple juice. Leyla Shafiyeva, deputy general director of Agrocomplex, provided a tour of the production and the orchard. In addition, Yaroslav ANDRUSHKO, the manager of the refrigeration complex, told us about the line for the production of non-concentrated juice. 

 

 

After that, the participants were met by the director of the company "Fruktona-VN", Kostyantyn KUZMENKO, who provided a tour of the production and demonstrated the work of processing fruits and vegetables from beginning to finish. It should be noted that "Fruktona-VN" is a large Vinnytsia company specializing in freezing fruit-berry and vegetable products. The participants saw the operation of up-to-date equipment of the best European manufacturers: UNIDEX, PIGO, ZETA, and PND.

 

 

"Ivanivska Kalyna" is a young technological farm which grows pears since 2019. The pear orchards cover 14 hectares and include such varieties as Noyabrska, Yablunivska, and Alessia varieties (red-fruited winter pears, seedlings of which were purchased in the Belgian nursery Carolus). The rest seedlings of the Noyabrska and Yablunivska varieties are from the Bakhmut nursery. The pear orchard is provided by drip irrigation and fertigation, at the same time, trellis, and an anti-hail net from the "EFT PLUS" company. Agricultural agronomist Vadym ROZPOTNYUK conducted a tour of the orchard with the aim of demonstrating the peculiarities of growing pears of the above-mentioned varieties and what obstacles can be faced and shared his experience on how to build a technological pear farm.