SMARTBERRY 2026: TECHNOLOGIES. INNOVATIONS. SUCCESS. A Roadmap to a Profitable Berry Business: From Production to Added Value
03.11.2026, 09:23
How can you build a profitable berry business amid rising costs, increasingly stringent product quality requirements and growing competition in international markets? How do you choose the proper technologies, calculate production economics, avoid legal pitfalls, justify investments and identify opportunities to generate greater added value?
These questions will be at the heart of SmartBerry 2026, a three-day professional event organised by the Technologies & Innovations Media Group on 9–11 December 2026 in Lviv, Ukraine.
The programme will bring together four interconnected formats: the practical Berry&Fruit Academy, the International Scientific and Practical Conference SmartBerry 2026 accompanied by an exhibition of technologies and equipment, the Power of Cold. Effective Solutions for Business Congress, and a business tour to the GalFrost and Agro Frutika Byshkiv enterprises.
This is an opportunity for berry growers, farm owners and managers, agronomists, technologists and representatives of the processing industry to explore the berry business as a whole — from cultivation technologies and farm management to storage, processing and marketing.
9 December – Berry&Fruit Academy
From Cultivation Technologies to Systematic Farm Management
The practical Academy will help berry producers identify the key technological and management decisions needed to develop their businesses.
The focus will extend beyond cultivation and crop management technologies for blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. The programme will also feature presentations on berry quality requirements for the fresh market and freezing, product safety, the legal and financial aspects of running a farm, and GLOBALG.A.P. certification.
A new permanent feature of the Berry&Fruit Academy will be a dedicated thematic panel designed to transform presentations by technology companies into professional consultations for berry growers. The Academy will conclude with a session on modern irrigation and fertigation solutions.
The Academy’s goal is to help producers move beyond implementing individual technologies and understand how each decision affects crop quality, production costs and overall farm profitability.
Among the Academy’s experts are: Jeremy Darby, a berry farming expert (United Kingdom); Iryna Kobrynets, a berry farming expert; Ihor Chechitko, an expert in GLOBALG.A.P. implementation and certification; and Vitalii Sydorenko, director of YAROFruit LLC.
Main Berry Partner: “Blueberry Producers of Ukraine” Association. Main Industry Partner (freezing): YAROFruit LLC. Main Industry Partner (nursery): FruTech LLC. Main Technology Partner of the Academy (irrigation and fertigation): “Eucalyptus R.” Main Legal Partner: “Pakharenko & Partners.”
10 December – International Scientific and Practical Conference SmartBerry 2026: “Technologies. Innovations. Success.”
The Next Generation of Berry Business: From Production to Added Value Product
This is the central event of the programme, bringing together berry producers, Ukrainian and international experts, technology companies, equipment suppliers and potential business partners.
Participants will discuss practical farming experience, technological solutions for improving production efficiency, the selection of crops and varieties, product quality, cost optimisation and the economic feasibility of investments.
Special attention will be given to the prospects of niche berry crops, the development of modern cultivation technologies and the opportunities available to Ukrainian producers in international markets.
An important part of the programme will be the discussion panel “Fresh and Frozen Berry Exports 2026: New Rules of the Global Market. How Can Ukrainian Producers Sell at Higher Prices Rather Than Simply Sell More?” Participants will discuss changes in the global market, buyer requirements, sales prospects and opportunities to move from supplying raw materials towards products with higher added value.
Tastings, Exhibition and Live Professional Networking
Alongside the conference, an exhibition and presentation of equipment, technologies and materials for berry growing, horticulture, viticulture, nut production and processing will take place.
Visitors will have the opportunity to explore company offerings, sample berries, fruit, vegetables, beverages and processed products, meet producers and suppliers, exchange experience and discover solutions for their own businesses.
As is traditional, the programme will include a wine tasting hosted by the conference’s wine partners. The day will conclude with a friendly dinner bringing together participants and partners — an informal setting where new business projects and partnerships often take shape.
A charity fundraising campaign in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will also be organised. Every year, conference participants actively contribute to this initiative, and their joint efforts make it possible to raise substantial amounts of financial assistance for Ukrainian service members.
SmartBerry 2026 will mark the 50th industry conference organised by the Technologies & Innovations Media Group since it began holding professional events in 2016. This is an important milestone in the development of professional communication and cooperation between producers, technology companies, experts and representatives of related industries.
10 December – The 6th “Power of Cold. Effective Solutions for Business” Congress
The Cold Chain: A Tool for Preserving Quality and Creating Added Value
Running in parallel in a separate conference hall, the Power of Cold. Effective Solutions for Business Congress will focus on cooling, storage, freezing and cold chain logistics technologies. Participants will have the opportunity to explore modern solutions for maintaining product quality and improving the efficiency of berry businesses.
The key focus will be on solutions for preserving the quality of fresh and frozen produce, ensuring an efficient cold chain and developing processing operations.
The congress will offer a practical perspective on how post-harvest technologies, equipment and well-planned investments influence product losses, marketing opportunities and the overall economic performance of an enterprise.
11 December – Business Tour to GalFrost and Agro Frutika Byshkiv
From Professional Discussions to First-Hand Experience of Real Production
The programme will conclude with a business tour to the GalFrost and Agro Frutika Byshkiv enterprises. Participants will have the opportunity to visit production facilities, learn about how the companies operate, observe technological processes and meet company representatives.
This format allows the professional dialogue to continue in a practical setting: participants can compare the insights gained at the conference with real-life business experience, discuss specific solutions and identify approaches that could benefit their own farms.
GalFrost LLC is a Ukrainian food processing company founded in 2007 in Zhovkva, Lviv region. The company specialises in berry freezing and freeze-drying. Using modern blast-freezing and tunnel-freezing technologies, as well as freeze-dried product manufacturing, GalFrost supplies berries and processed berry products to both the Ukrainian and international markets.
Agro Frutika Byshkiv LLC was established in 2005 in the village of Byshkiv, Lviv region. The company specialises in growing berries and grain crops. Its main berry crops include strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and cherries, cultivated on extensive areas for subsequent sale and processing.
Four Events – One Goal
Berry&Fruit Academy, SmartBerry 2026, the Power of Cold Congress and the business tour form an integrated programme for everyone committed to developing a professional and profitable berry business.
The programme is designed to help participants select technologies based on their practical value, understand production economics, meet product quality and safety requirements, find effective storage and processing solutions, and expand their sales markets.
Organiser: Technologies & Innovations Media Group.
Main Media Partner: Yahidnyk (Berry Field), Ukraine’s leading dedicated berry industry media project.
Media Partners: Horticulture and Vegetable Growing. Technologies & Innovations and Drinks & Beer. Technologies & Innovations magazines.
Venue: Lviv, Ukraine. Further details regarding the venue and participation arrangements will be announced at a later date.
Join Us at SmartBerry 2026!
If you grow berries, manage a farm, develop technological solutions, work in storage or processing, or are looking for new opportunities to grow your agricultural business, we invite you to take part in SmartBerry 2026.
Register now to gain practical knowledge, connect with industry professionals and partners, and develop your own roadmap for building a profitable business.
The annual Winter Berry Conference is the most popular event organised by the Technologies & Innovations Media Group. Over the past ten years, it has welcomed more than 3,000 participants, with all of Ukraine’s key berry producers taking part every year.
Join SMARTBERRY 2026 – TECHNOLOGIES. INNOVATIONS. SUCCESS!
Main Legal Partner: IP and Law firm Pakharenko & Partners.
Main Technology Partner: EFT Group.
Main Industry Partner of SmartBerry Conference: Public Union “UKRSADVINPROM”.
Main Industry Partner (Blueberries): Association of Blueberry Producers of Ukraine.
Main Industry Partner of the “Power of Cold” Congress: Association “Berry Growing of Ukraine”.
Business Tour Partners:
● GalFrost;
● Agro Frutika Byshkiv.
Registration for participants and partners is now open!
https://forms.gle/oStfcn17YVgb757L7
Media Partners
Horticulture and Vegetable Growing. Technologies & Innovations,
Yahidnyk (Berry Field), Horishnyk (Nut Wood), Drinks. Technologies & Innovations.
Websites: jagodnik.info, techhorticulture.com, techdrinks.info, forum.techdrinks.com.
Participation Fees and Conditions
Participant Registration
For agricultural producers:
● UAH 3,000 – participation on 10 December (Conference Day).
● UAH 2,500 – Business Tour (registration is available only to participants attending the event on 10 December).
● UAH 3,500 – T&I Berry&Fruit Academy (registration is available only to participants attending the event on 10 December).
For non-agricultural producers (companies):
● UAH 4,000 – participation on 10 December (Conference Day).
● UAH 2,500 – Business Tour (registration is available only to participants attending the event on 10 December).
● UAH 3,500 – T&I Berry&Fruit Academy (registration is available only to participants attending the event on 10 December).
The participation fee includes:
● Coffee breaks, lunch and buffet reception;
● Event catering and hospitality services;
● Participation in tastings of beverages and processed products;
● Conference participant package with informational materials;
● A comprehensive post-event report, including final presentations by the speakers, delivered by email;
● Contact details of all event partners, exhibitors and speakers.
Participant and Partner Registration
For registration and further information, please contact:
Larysa
Tel.: +38 097 96 89 516
Email: sad.nti@ukr.net
Anna
Tel.: +38 097 759 25 83
Email: reklama.nti@gmail.com
Iryna
Tel.: +38 096 49 166 92
Email: oksana.buh.ti@gmail.com
Project Manager: Nadiia Yashchuk
Tel.: +38 (068) 568-58-22
Email: rnadia@ukr.net
Creative Director: Kateryna Koneva
Editor-in-Chief of the Technologies & Innovations project
Tel.: +38 067 238 18 51
Email: kateryna.koneva@gmail.com