Berry Growing and Freezing Businesses: Prospects Are Evident! Results of the VIII International Scientific and Practical Conference "Berry Growing and Processing: Technologies and Innovations" (December 12–13, Lviv)
19.12.2024, 09:36
Is it promising to develop the berry growing, processing, and freezing business? Definitely, yes! That was proved by participants of the VIII International Scientific and Practical Conference "Berry Growing and Processing: Technologies and Innovations", which took place at the Lviv George Hotel on December 12–13, 2024. The IV Congress on Freezing, Processing, and Cold Logistics for the Berry and Vegetable Sectors took place in parallel with the conference in the neighboring hall. About 300 participants from different parts of Ukraine and abroad took part in both events, as the conference was attended by agricultural consultants and representatives of well-known companies from the Netherlands, Great Britain, and Poland. The second day, December 13, included a business tour of the powerful berry, freezing, and processing enterprises—Kamyanka-Buzky Food Products Plant and Prykarpattya Agro Farm.
The conference organizer is the media group "Technologies and Innovations", publishers of the well-known magazine "Berry Field".
The conference was opened with a welcoming speech by the founders of the media group "Technologies and Innovations", organizers of the International Scientific and Practical Conference Kateryna KONEVA and Nadiya YASHCHUK. The attendees were also greeted by Lyudmila HONCHARENKO, Director of the Department of Agro-Industrial Development of Lviv ODA; Roman VUIKIV, Director of the Kamyanka-Buz Food Products Plant, a partner of the conference business tour; Bohdan MALENEVYCH, Manager of the Agricultural Plot of the Prykarpattya Agro Farm (TM Boikivchanka), a partner of the conference business tour; Volodymyr PECHKO, Head of the Public Union "UKRSADVINPROM".
The Director of the Department of Agrarian Development of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, Ihor VISHTAK, delivered a speech online. He noted that the state budget for 2025 holds the programs that were in effect this year to support orchard growers. Thus, financing of preferential loans for small farmers and grants support within the framework of the eWork program are maintained.
– Unfortunately, the amount remains the same as this year. However, there were enough funds for 2024, I hope that for next year funds will be enough, at least for 10 months. The “eWork” program will include UAH 1.3 billion, the big share of which is for the development of horticulture, berry growing, viticulture, and greenhouse farming, – noted Ihor Vishtak.
He told the conference participants that today, in addition to traditional apple and pear orchards, nut plantations are significantly increased as well, especially hazelnuts. Among other berry crops, the raspberry plantation is actively increasing.
– At the last meeting of the agrarian Ministers of Ukraine and Poland, the following issue was raised that frozen berries from Ukraine are extensively entering the markets of the European Union, and this causes concern on the Polish side, - said the director of the Department of Agrarian Development Ihor Vishtak.
However, he sees this as a positive signal, indicating that Ukrainian producers have reached the level of supplying their products to European markets. Igor Vishtak keeps hope that joint work will only contribute to the development of the industry in the future.
Advanced Technologies in Berry Growing
The conference partners told the participants about new berry crop varieties and innovations in plant care. The current range of berry crops for processing and the fresh market was presented by Serhiy ZMIYCHUK, CEO of FruTek company. More details about berry crop selection in Scotland and new blueberry varieties were told by Jamie Smee, business developer at the James Hutton Institute, and Oleg BAZYUK, director of the Dolyna-Agro nursery.
A significant part of the speeches was devoted to berry care, plant protection and nutrition.
Andriy OSYKOVY, a leading specialist in horticulture at Summit-Agro Ukraine, head of the Central region, told the conference participants how to improve the system of protection for berry crops.
Yaroslava BUKHONSKA, a plant physiologist at the BTU Biotechnology company, told us about biological products for the protection and nutrition of berry crops. Oleksander BYKOVSKYY, consultant for horticulture and berry growing at Agritema company, introduced effective biological solutions for growing berries from world leaders in the production of biological products.
The new bio fungicide Taegro™ for specific berry crops and grapes was presented by Dmytro TYMOSHENKO, technical support manager of Syngenta company. Volodymyr ZABALUEV, a representative of ICL company, dedicated his report to the innovations in berry crop care products. Ivanna MARCHENKO, plant variety specialist at the Pakharenko & Partners patent law firm, the Main Legal Partner of the conference, raised an important topic. The speaker told us about the safe market turnover of planting materials.
In November 2022, amendments were adopted to the Ukrainian laws “On the Protection of Plant Variety Rights” and “On Seeds and Planting Material” to synchronize with the EU norms. Thus, the changes came into effect in June 2023. Over a year and a half, the changes have been in effect and practically implemented. Legal turnover of agricultural products is possible if laws are complied with. To legally purchase planting material, you must use all official registers to protect yourself from buying low-quality planting material or planting material imported without paying taxes and fees to verify information in available sources. While carrying out economic activities, it is important to make sure that the information provided in the purchase and sale agreements or supply of planting material coincides with the information in official sources because it can be verified during a scheduled or unscheduled inspection of the enterprise by the State Consumer Service or the tax service if the farm received grant support, - noted Ivanna Marchenko.
The speaker also analyzed the following protection tools the State Register of Plant Varieties suitable for distribution in Ukraine, the State Register of Plant Varieties Patents, the Register of Seed and Nursery Entities, and the Register of Certificates for Seeds and Planting Material. In addition, Ivanna Marchenko told us about the conditions according to which royalties are paid.
An exhibition presentation of equipment, technologies, and materials for berry growing took place during conference day. The following companies and farmers participated in the exhibition: Makita Ukraine, Agritema, DE KEMP Ukraine, ICL, NOVOSAD, Koriel Group, Gumagroexport, Syngenta, Insortex, Orient Way, Dolyna Agro, FruTek, RMSI, Ralco Technic, Fruktovy Sad AT, Klioma Service, AgroVesna, Sorter-Pak, Shypshyna Ukraine, Rhodonite Agro, Green Group Ukraine, Summit-Agro Ukraine, Rosana Biological Solutions, MAC Systems, Bee Star, 4 Stykhii, Makosh, Intermet-Ukraine, Alfainterplast, Agro-Mel, Club Plants, Biotechnology Company BTU, Petrutsalek, Van Dijk Techniks, Polska Borowka, Bonifrut, Vynogradnik Yulinykh, Iryna Pavlova.
Processed products – marmalade, strong drinks, berry beer – were presented and provided for tasting during the event by the conference`s food partners: "Mila Devyatko`s Craft Bakery", "BLACK GOLD Black Nut", Strong Distillery, Markel Brewery.
The main business partner - Public Union "UKRSADVINPROM".
The main legal partner - IP and Law firm "Pakharenko and Partners"
The main technological partner - EFT Group, was represented at the conference by the companies "Biohim Agro" and "EFT PLUS".
Successful Experience in Growing Berry Сrops
This time, both Ukrainian and foreign participants of the conference shared their experience in growing berry crops. Piotr FIGURA, owner of Gospodarstwo Rolne Figura (Poland), told about his experience in growing Przehyba raspberries and other varieties undercover and on open ground. The speaker paid attention to the preparation and selection of a place for growing raspberries and gave practical advice on protection and biostimulation.
Is it possible to obtain 20 tons of blueberries per hectare and develop a berry business during a period of falling prices and a labor shortage? That was discussed during a speech by Pawel WAVRYSCHUK, a representative of the company Polska Borowka (Poland).
Methods for increasing the yield and profitability of a berry plantation were presented online by Leon SCHRIJNWERKERS, owner and director of the Schrijnwerkers Plants B.V. nursery (Netherlands).
The speakers also paid attention to garden strawberries. It would be better to grow strawberries in open ground or in a tunnel, and how to harvest strawberries before getting frost, these issues were revealed by agronomist-consultant Iryna PAVLOVA. Agronomist-consultant Iryna KOBRYNETS told the conference participants everything about the methods of growing strawberries in the ground.
Jan ROBBEN, agronomist of Flevo Berry B.V. (Netherlands), revealed the global trends in growing this berry online. New varieties of raspberries and strawberries were presented by Katażyna KRUŁ, representative of Niwa Hodowla Roślin Jagodowych Sp. z o.o. (Poland).
The exclusive topic of the conference is table grapes. Olga YULINA, owner of the farm "Vinogradnyk Yulinykh", told us about grape varieties for long-term storage to be fresh-looking and for freezing.
Moreover, niche berries were also not ignored. In particular, the prospects of sea buckthorn, hascap, blackberry, and rosehip were presented by Oleksander YARESHCHENKO, Deputy Director for Scientific Work, Plant Breeder, Institute of Horticulture of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The topic of export sales was analyzed by Yevhen KHARLAN, a member of the board of TD UA Growers. The results of the berry season 2024 were analyzed by the participants of the discussion panel, moderated by Volodymyr PECHKO, head of the Public Union UKRSADVINPROM. The discussion was participated by Natalia SHESTAK, HR Manager of Blue Berry company; Iryna KUKHTINA, president of the Association "Berry Growing of Ukraine"; Andriy SHVYDNYUK, co-founder of the company "SAV AGRO PARTNER".
Among the discussed issues, there was a noteworthy one about the work process on the berry farm. The world market for fresh and frozen berries was also paid attention.
IV Congress on Freezing, Processing, and Cold Logistics
For the fourth time, the Congress on Freezing, Processing, and Cold Logistics brought together market specialists with incredible success. A full hall of people gathered to take part in active discussions.
The Congress took place in parallel with the conference in the neighboring hall. The Congress was opened by a discussion panel on the topic "Freezing and Other Types of Processing of Berries and Vegetables: Practitioners` Experience. Export. Work During Wartime." The moderator of the discussion was Oleg YAKYMETS, a consultant on freezing berries and vegetables. The discussion was attended by Vitaliy SYDORENKO, director of Yarofruit company; Maksym BELOZYOROV, representative of Fruzbi company, Export Consulting; Lesya PETRUNYAK, broker POLO TRADING; Roman VUYKIV, director of Kamyanka-Buzky Food Products Plan; Vitaliy ZAKHARCHUK, head of West Nord. The participants of the discussion panel discussed an extensive range of issues, including cooperation between berry producers and processors, recommendations for harvesters who purchase part of the products from households, logistics, price analysis in 2024, price forecast for frozen products for 2025, and others.
The congress was also introduced by interesting experts` presentations in the freezing and processing industries. Anton RYABKO, director of RMCI company, explained why CO2 is the natural refrigerant of the future, using examples from enterprises in Ukraine. Current technological solutions in freezing and sublimation of fruit and berry products were presented by Igor KORNIENKO, technical director of Coriel Group, and Vladyslav PRYKHODKO, design engineer for the assembly equipment of Coriel Group.
Modular systems of industrial refrigeration equipment based on CO 2 and NH 3 were analyzed by Ivan PUGACHOV, technical director of Green Group Ukraine company. Andriy GALYAS, director of Berry Trade company, told us about the experience of aggregation and processing of berry products and how to enter foreign markets.
Charity Auction in Support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
At the end of the conference, the 11th Charity auction of goods and services of Ukrainian and European companies took place for the arthrosis division of the 44th OABr, where serves Vasyl Martyuk, founder and member of the Board of the AС FAINA POLIANA, head of the farm Fama. Overall, was fundraised about 55 thousand UAH.
Our partner companies provided lots for the auction draw: Biotechnology Company BTU, Cheese Factory Unikasol, Makosh, farm Fama, Postmodern, Summit-Agro Ukraine, Wowberry, farm Korets-Sad, Craft Bakery Mila Devyatko, Fruktovy Sad AT, Group of Companies EFT Group, Iryna Pavlova, Rosana Biological Solutions, NOVOSAD, Vinogradnyk Yulinykh, Markel Brewery, ICL, Strawberry Hills, FruTek.
Thank you to everyone who joined the charity auction!
Business Tour to the Leading Berry and Freezing Enterprises of the Lviv Region
Traditionally, the second day of the conference included a business tour of the leading berry and freezing enterprises of the Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk regions: Prykarpattya Agro and Kamyanka-Buzky Food Products Plant.
At the Prykarpattya Agro farm, the business tour participants saw how blueberries and raspberries are grown in open ground and strawberries undercover. Tunnels have been built due to a state grant. By the way, the farm grows varieties whose last fruits are even, in December, still ripen somewhere.
Kamianka-Buzka Food Products Plant is a new enterprise that began operating in August 2023 in the city of Kamianka-Buzka, Lviv region. The enterprise has installed powerful equipment from the best world manufacturers, including UNIDEX, Uni-Masz H.M. Juszczuk Sp.J., Sortex, Koriel Group, etc.
The tours to both companies were informative and interesting. Read more about the business tour and the conference in the printed journal "Berry Field", which will be issued coming soon. Follow the news on the website jagodnik.info.
We invite you to join the conferences of the media group "Technologies and Innovations" in 2025. The following conferences are scheduled:
II International Scientific and Practical Conference "Vegetable and Berry Growing: Open Ground and Under Cover. Technologies and Innovations" (February 27–28, 2025)
XIV Forum of Brewers, Distillers and Beverage Producers (April 10–11, 2025)
XII International Scientific and Practical Conference "Successful Horticulture and Processing: Technologies and Innovations. Pome Fruits. Stone Fruits. Nuts" (June 5–6, 2025)
XV Forum of Brewers, Distillers and Beverage Producers (September 4–5, 2025)
XIII International Scientific and Practical Conference "Successful Horticulture, Vegetable Growing and Processing: Technologies and Innovations. Pome Fruits. Juices. Processing" (October 30–31, 2025)
IX International Scientific and Practical Conference "Berry Growing and Processing: Technologies and Innovations" (December 11–12, 2025)
V Congress on Freezing and Cold Logistics (December 11–12, 2025)
Please contact us for participation in future conferences:
Larysa Tovkach, tel.: +38 097 96 89 516
Anna Pankratenkova, tel.: +38 097 759 25 83
Iryna Petroniuk, tel.: +38 096 49 166 92