On 16 May, Odesa became the epicentre of the most anticipated agricultural event of the year - Agro Food Summit 2025, with the support of the initiative team of Agrarians of Odesa Region, with the most reliable partner JSC Oschadbank and under the direct supervision of the Regional Development Agency of Odesa Region.

Under the slogan "Taste the future of the agricultural industry with us!" The event brought together more than 300 participants from across the region and Ukraine - farmers, scientists, government officials, agribusiness and investors.

🌾It was not just a forum. It was a platform of strength and hope, where those who keep the Ukrainian village alive every day, save the country's food security, do not stop even at the sound of sirens and continue to believe in Ukraine met.

🔥Who was there to create the future?

Key guests of the summit include
🔹 Oleksandr Haidu, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy,
🔹 Taras Vysotskyi, First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, Acting Minister,
🔹 Oleh Kiper, Head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration.
🔹 Alla Stoyanova, Head of the Agrarian Odesa Oblast Council's deputy group.
🔹 Roza Tapanova, member of the Supervisory Board of JSC
"OSCHADBANK.
Vitaliy Protsenko, Director of the Regional
Policy and reintegration of the territories of the Ministry
development of communities and territories.
🔹Mykhailo Malashok, Head of Operations
business entities of the Ministry of Economy.

As well as experts from specialised institutions, opinion leaders, representatives of international projects, agro-start-ups and NGOs.

📊 During panel discussions, strategic sessions and networking, participants discussed:
- how to ensure the country's food security in times of war,
- instruments of state support for farmers - from grants to compensation,
- digital transformation agriculture,
- new ways of exporting and logistics in the face of blocked ports,
- innovations in agriculture - from drones to artificial intelligence,
- development of gastronomic tourism and local brands.

📣Alla Stoyanova, a deputy of the Odesa Regional Council, an expert on economics and agricultural policy and a leader of many regional initiatives, made a very powerful speech.

💬"We did not just keep The agricultural sector in times of war. We have shown the world that the Ukrainian farmer is a symbol of strength, recovery and strategic potential. As of 2024, despite the losses and difficult logistics, agricultural exports of Odesa region increased by 12%. We have the foundation - land, knowledge, traditions, and most importantly, intelligence. And we have something to work on - irrigation, processing, cooperation, investment. This means we have a future," said Alla Stoyanova.

📊 In her speech, she provided in-depth analytics of the region's agricultural sector, comparative indicators for 2024-2025, prices for major crops, export dynamics and a forecast for 2026, where the key trend will be high-margin products and access to new markets.

💬"This summit is proof that war cannot defeat those who live with the land in their hearts. We are an agrarian nation that today creates not only bread, but also a new Ukrainian identity," Alla Stoyanova emotionally concluded her speech.

💬Alexander Gaidu stressed that:
"Agro Food Summit is the right signal: the agricultural sector is alive, fighting and ready for change. We heard farmers, saw innovations, and most importantly, felt the unity that gives birth to great national strategies."

Taras Vysotsky said:
"Today's event is a practical example of an effective dialogue between the government, business and communities. We need to concentrate the resources of the state and international investors to support small and medium-sized producers, develop innovations and agro-processing. This is what creates a confident future."

Serhii Kononenko, Director of the Odesa Regional Development Agency, emphasised:
"Agro Food Summit has become a place of concentration of ideas, solutions and real partnerships. Each discussion contains the seeds of a large project. As a regional institution, it is extremely important for us to have such a platform - new business models, clusters, and projects with international donors are born here. This is not just an event, it is the launch of a new regional agricultural policy."

Agro Food Summit 2025 proved that united agrarians, government, science and business are a force that can not only keep the country afloat, but also give it a new course. When the front holds the army, the agricultural sector holds the rear. This is the starting point for a new agrarian Ukraine - bold, innovative and sustainable. New ideas that will become successful cases tomorrow were born here. Those who did not give up met here. And that is why victory begins with such meetings.

📍Odesa, 16 May - the day when the Ukrainian agricultural industry once again said with confidence: we are strong because we are together!