During the official visit to California, the Ukrainian delegation had the honour to visit one of the most prestigious and well-known educational institutions in the world - the University of California.

With 11 campuses and 45 departments, it is the largest university in America and is internationally recognised for its achievements in various fields of science, including agricultural technology. The University of California has cooperation with 65 countries, and some of its departments are focused on agricultural areas, making it a global leader in the agricultural sector.

This educational institution is a powerful research centre that works tirelessly to solve current agricultural problems.

Alla Stoyanova shared her impressions of her visit to the University of California:

"It was a real shock and delight to meet such giants of science and agricultural technology. Every corner of the university impresses with its innovation, and the scientists here work not just to improve harvests, but to change the world. For me personally, it was important to see how agricultural science can combine science, nature and human labour into a single harmonious system. I consider the following areas to be the most important for the development of the agricultural sector in Odesa region:

1. Introduce climate-resistant crop varieties that save resources.

2. Adaptation of irrigation and moisture conservation methods for the southern regions of Ukraine.

3. Innovative technologies in agricultural production that will reduce the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

4. Joint research within national laboratories to develop new technologies that would help Ukrainian farmers grow more efficiently and sustainably.

This visit was a real eye-opener for me, and I am confident that the experience we gained will help us improve agricultural sector Odesa region and the whole of Ukraine. I am extremely fortunate to have the honour of meeting and working alongside such an outstanding and inspiring leader as Atef Swelam. His professionalism, deep understanding of agricultural science and tireless dedication have been a real source of inspiration for me. It is thanks to his support and invaluable experience that we managed to establish cooperation between Ukraine and the University of California, which has opened up new horizons for our agricultural sector. This is just the beginning of our journey, and I am confident that together we will achieve great things!"

During the visit to California, the Ukrainian delegation had the honour of holding two important meetings that were a real eye-opener and provided an incredible opportunity for future cooperation.

The first meeting was with Glenda Humiston, Vice President of the University of California. During this meeting, she presented UCANR's focus and priorities aimed at creating innovative solutions for agricultural science. The participants discussed the strategic directions of the university's development, in particular its focus on sustainable agriculture, the introduction of new technologies and adaptation to climate change. This was an important step in establishing links that will allow Ukraine to implement best practices for the development of the agricultural sector.

The second meeting with Associate Vice President Brent Hales revealed another important component of the university's activities - the relationship between scientific research and practical measures for farmers through the expansion of their knowledge and skills. Brent's presentation demonstrated how the University of California is actively integrating research into the real world of agriculture, helping farmers improve yields, use resources efficiently and adapt to global challenges.

The visit of the Ukrainian delegation to the University of California opened up new horizons in agricultural science and technology. All these innovations, from new crop varieties to water conservation methods, could be a real breakthrough for Ukraine's agricultural sector.

The cooperation between Ukraine and California scientists has enormous potential for the development of sustainable agriculture that is able to use natural resources efficiently and adapt to global climate change. This is just the beginning of a long journey, and we have everything we need to make it a successful one.

ACTING TOGETHER FOR VICTORY!