The International Scientific and Practical Conference SMARTBERRY 2025 — TECHNOLOGIES. INNOVATIONS. SUCCESS will be held on 11 December 2025.
The Congress “Power of Cold: Effective Solutions for Business” will take place in parallel with the conference dedicated to berry-growing technologies.
On the second day, 12 December, - will take place Berry&Fruit Academy with Expert Talks and Business tour to leading berry enterprises of the region – Fruktovy sad AT and VauBerry.

Venue: Verkhovyna Hotel & Restaurant Complex,
s. Petropavlivska Borshchahivka, 24 Petropavlivska Str.

Organizer: Media Group Technologies and Innovations, publisher of the leading industry magazine “Yagidnyk” (www.jagodnik.info) and creator new digital platform T&I Agro Hub — an interactive ecosystem that unites our media resources, analytics, educational products, industry events, and business-development tools, creating a single space for communication and the implementation of innovations in Ukraine’s agricultural sector.

Technologies and Innovations Media Group is a leading publisher of specialized agricultural media, including industry magazines, professional informational websites, and active communities across social media platforms. We create high-quality content for fruit growers, berry producers, winemakers, nut growers, beverage manufacturers, and processing companies.

One of the key crops to be discussed at the SmartBerry conference will be blueberries. Ukraine is steadily s trengthening its position as one of the leading blueberry producers in Europe. Other berries—raspberries, strawberries, and niche species (honeyberry, sea buckthorn, rosehip, serviceberry, blackberry etc.)—will also receive proper attention.
In addition, the conference will highlight key topics related to freezing, cooling, and processing of berry products.

What is needed to increase profitability in the berry business?
First, stable investments combined with cost optimization, variety analysis for domestic and export markets, implementation of new technologies, certification, and entering foreign markets. Equally important are decisions on substrate and pot cultivation, open/covered field systems, organic/non-organic production, and the technological aspects of planting, irrigation, crop protection, storage, packaging, and more.

These and many other issues will be covered on the first day by Ukrainian and international experts and practitioners.

11 December — Conference Day

The program includes presentations by international and leading Ukrainian experts in berry growing and processing. Among them are Jeremy Darby (United Kingdom), an independent agronomist-consultant with 40 years of international experience; distinguished speakers from international companies, Ihor Tarushkin and Volodymyr Voievodni; scientists from leading Ukrainian research institutions and independent consultants Anna Lutsko, Iryna Kobrynets, and Oleksandr Yareschenko; founders of berry farms and nurseries Iryna Barzo and Lilyana Dmytriieva; as well as heads of well-known Ukrainian technology companies.
Panel Discussion: “Survive and Succeed: New Markets and Sales of Ukrainian Berries in Times of Instability”. Moderator: Volodymyr Pechko, Chairman of the Association “UkrSadVinProm,” expert in fruit and vegetable market development, active member of the specialized working groups of the Ministry of Economy, consultant to berry and horticultural enterprises.

Key discussion points:

·        State support, grants, financing programs, and other mechanisms to sustain the agricultural sector

·        Product quality

·        Certification and export

·        Pricing policy

·        Impact of production costs on growers’ income

Simultaneously, in another hall, the Congress “Power of Cold: Effective Solutions for Business” will take place.

In 2025, the 5th Congress on Freezing and Cold Logistics received a new name — “Power of Cold: Effective Solutions for Business” — reflecting its strategic focus on practical tools for improving efficiency, optimizing production and logistics processes, and implementing modern cooling and freezing technologies.

The goal of the Congress is to bring together professionals from the cold sector to share best practices, promote the development of modern cold chain infrastructure in Ukraine, and help businesses implement innovations and make strategic decisions that enhance competitiveness in both domestic and international markets.

12 December — Two Major Events

A.    T&I Berry&Fruit Academy — the School of Knowledge that Brings Harvest!
An educational platform for growers and processors of berries, fruits, and nuts, featuring leading Ukrainian and international experts. The Academy will take place in a separate conference hall of the hotel and will present a comprehensive, structured program dedicated to the three key berries of the market — strawberries, raspberries and blueberries.

Participants will receive A-to-Z knowledge, from cultivation technologies and modern production systems to economics, processing and market opportunities. Most importantly, they will gain the insights needed to determine which business model suits them best — one that ensures quick returns, or one that provides long-term stability.

The program will be led by top experts, including Anna Lutsko, Iryna Kobrynets (Ukraine), and Jeremy Darby (United Kingdom), who will share advanced practical expertise in berry production, post-harvest handling, processing, and business development.

B.    Business Tour to
• “Fruktovyi Sad AT” Farm (Kyiv region) — a model of modern blueberry production using state-of-the-art technologies for open-field and protected cultivation.
• “Vauberry” Farm (Kyiv region) — a successful organic blueberry operation with facilities for storage, cooling, sorting, and packaging.
(Separate registration)

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of Technologies & Innovations Media Group — a festive finale with a surprise!

The day will conclude with a prize lottery, gifts from partners and a warm friendly dinner.

Throughout the SmartBerrry conference, visitors will enjoy:

• an exhibition of technologies and equipment for berry production (tools, crop-protection products, fertilizers, machinery, etc.);
• an exhibition-tasting of beverages (distillates, wines, cider, berry juices) and processed berry and fruit products, including honey-based specialties (candies, dried fruits, chips, frozen berries, jams, freeze-dried products).

Main idea of the SmartBerry conference:

To promote berry growing in Ukraine, modern technologies, best practices, sector development, and contribute to food security and economic resilience.

Conference goals:

To provide market participants with the most up-to-date technologies for practical implementation on their plantations, raise the knowledge level of berry growers, and offer solutions for marketing and storage in today’s challenging environment—fresh market sales, processing, freezing, cold logistics, and exports.

Who should attend:

Owners, managers, specialists of berry farms, freezing and processing companies, technology providers, scientists, and anyone interested in creating and growing a successful berry business.

The winter berry conference is the most popular event of our media group. Over nine years, more than 3,000 participants have attended; every year, all key Ukrainian berry growers take part.

More about the 2024 event:
https://forum.techdrinks.info/ua/archive/47

Join the SMARTBERRY conference 2025 — TECHNOLOGIES. INNOVATIONS. SUCCESS!

Main Technology Partner: EFT Group

Main Sectoral Partner of SmartBerry Conference:
UKRSADVYNPROM

Main Industry Partner (Blueberries): Association “Blueberry Growers of Ukraine”

Main Sectoral Partner of the “Power of Cold” Congress:
• Ukrainian Berry Association

Business Tour Partners:
• “Fruktovyi Sad AT”
• “Vauberry”

Registration for participants and partners is already open:
https://forms.gle/c3M11d8uxSNa9ZyS9

Media Partners:
“Horticulture and Vegetables. Technologies and Innovations,”
“Yagidnyk,” “Horyshnyk,” “Drinks. Technologies and Innovations,”
websites: jagodnik.info, techhorticulture.com, techdrinks.info, forum.techdrinks.com

Participation Fees

For agricultural producers:

• 4800 UAH — full participation for both days, including Business Tour or T&I Berry&Fruit Academy
• 3000 UAH — participation on 11 December (conference day only)
• 2000 UAH — Business Tour (available only with participation on Day 1)
• 2000 UAH — T&I Berry&Fruit Academy (available only with participation on Day 1)

For non-producers (companies):

• 6500 UAH — participation in all events over 2 days, including the Business Tour
• 4000 UAH — participation on 11 December (conference day)

For small farms and researchers:

• 2500 UAH — participation on 11 December (conference day)

Participation fee includes: coffee breaks, lunch, evening buffet, tasting events, service during the event, participant package with materials, detailed post-event report with speakers’ presentations sent by email, contacts of all partners-exhibitors and speakers.

A 10% discount is offered to participants who have subscribed to the media group’s magazines — Yagidnyk and Horticulture & Vegetable Growing. Technologies and Innovations.

10 December, 19:00–22:00 — T&I Business Club (Solutions Club)
A closed evening meeting for owners and top managers on the eve of the conference.
By personal invitation only.
Participation fee: 3000 UAH.

Accommodation discount: 10% for conference participants at the Verkhovyna Hotel
Room booking phone numbers:
+380 (44) 339-99-31
+380 (50) 404-33-01
+380 (98) 166-96-24 (Viber, Telegram)
+380 (63) 304-04-71

Participant & Partner Registration Contacts:
Larysa: +38 097 96 89 516, sad.nti@ukr.net
Anna: +38 097 759 25 83, reklama.nti@gmail.com