The global agricultural landscape is undergoing a transformation — and Ukraine’s agri-sector is at the epicenter of these changes. Climate crisis, war, new EU regulatory requirements, trade restrictions — these are the challenges shaping a new reality in which agribusiness must rethink how to achieve profitability.
Speakers at the international conference Grain Ukraine 2025, taking place on May 29–30 in Kyiv, will discuss these challenges and explore potential growth pathways. This year, the event marks its 10th anniversary.
This conference is not just about the industry — it’s about the people driving it forward. One of them is Andrey Stavnitser, co-owner and CEO of TIS port, founder of Superhumans, founder of Grain Ukraine Conference. Ten years ago, he initiated the first Grain Ukraine conference in Odesa. Today, he addresses the community with the following words:
«Over the 10 years since the first Grain Ukraine in Odesa, we’ve gained far more experience than we ever expected. And yet, we’re here, we’re working — and more than that, we’re looking ahead and making plans. Many cultures have a saying: ‘They tried to bury us, but they didn’t know we were seeds.’ To me, that perfectly captures the spirit of our conference. Despite standing on shaky ground, we continue to grow, optimize, and evolve. I’m proud that Grain Ukraine has remained a platform where big things are made possible.»
The core theme of this year’s event is “New Avenues for Profitability: Rethinking Agriculture Amid Global Challenges.”
Серед питань, які звучатимуть: Чому внутрішня переробка залишається незбалансованою, які чинники гальмують розвиток і що дає перевагу? Чи витримає український агросектор правила гри ЄС? Торгові війни в умовах великої війни: як зберегти ринки й вийти сильнішими?
Some of the key questions to be explored include: Why does domestic processing remain unbalanced? What factors are holding development back — and what creates an advantage? Can Ukraine’s agricultural sector meet the EU’s rules of the game? And in the midst of a full-scale war, how can we withstand trade wars, retain markets, and emerge stronger?
The following panel discussions will take place during the event:
- «From Competition to Cooperation: How to Build an Effective Marginal Chain from Farmer to Foreign Consumer»
- «Echoes of the Past and Challenges of the Future: Strengthening the Global Position of Ukrainian Grain»
- «Logistics Business amid High Competition and Low Demand: Strategies for Maintaining Profitability»
- «Oilseed Market: Challenges of Deglobalization»
- «Restoring Investment Financing: Where to Find Funds for Development Projects Now?»
- «Competitiveness Models for Farmers in Europe and Ukraine»
- «From fields to ports: How EUDR is reshaping Ukrainian grain supply chains»
Among the speakers at Grain Ukraine:
- Priscilla Toffano, IMF Resident Representative for Ukraine
- Jonathan Grange, partner at Sunstone Brokers
- Thomas Mielke, Editor-in-Chief of OIL WORLD, CEO of ISTA Mielke GmbH
- Petr Krogman, Owner, Agromino; President, Ukrainian-Czech Chamber of Commerce
- Vitaliy Koval, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine
- Manuel Alcaraz, General Manager, Cereales y Harinas Garsan S.L. (CYH Garsan)
- Pieter Vrins, Head of Trade at Allseeds
- Iain Dykes, Managing Director JTZE Horní Moštěnice s.r.o.
- Ahmed Amin, Founder & CEO, Sprint Trading
- Dr. Keith Dawson, Chairman, Central Plains Group; Chair, Scottish Society for Crop Research (online)
- Svitlana Nikitiuk, Head of the Department for Agrarian Affairs of the Company Epicenter K
- Dmytro Kashpor, СEO of Adama Ukraine LLC
- Volodymyr Slavinsky, Director for Trade of NIBULON
- Alexey Kosobokov, Commercial Director ADM
- Andrii Shafran, Commercial Director at Continental Farmers Group
- Oleksandr Golovin, Commercial Director for Ukraine at Kernel
- Oleksandr Ivashyna, Logistics & Supply Chain Director at Bunge Ukraine
- Yuriy Skichko, CEO of Hermes-Trading LLC
- Valeriy Krupko, Director of MOST Logistic Terminal
- Gennadiy Ivanov, CEO of BPG Shipping (online)
- Mykola Volkov, Advisor on investment attraction and business development at Activitis
In total, over 50 speakers will take the stage at Grain Ukraine 2025 — experts in trade, logistics, and finance within the agricultural market. Organizers expect more than 500 industry participants.
“The ideas voiced from the stage at Grain Ukraine — and within the event’s progressive community — often become the driving force behind real change in the industry. One such example is the breakthrough of the ‘deep water’ blockade. So those who seek victory and development shouldn’t merely observe the changes in the agri-market — they should join the discussions at Grain Ukraine to sow new ideas and cultivate a new reality together”, – emphasized Kateryna Konashchuk, Grain Ukraine content partner, founder and partner at Trend&Hedge Club, and head of FARMERHOOD.
The evening program of Grain Ukraine 2025 will celebrate the event’s 10th anniversary. The headliner of the night: the energetic band Kozak System.
More information and registration
Organizer: IdeasFirst. General partners: Atria Brokers and Ukreximbank. Annual conference partners: SD Capital investment company and TIS terminal group. Content partner: Trend & Hedge Club.
Grain Ukraine is an international industry platform for dialogue among top agribusiness leaders, executives from agri-food companies, commercial and investment banks, and agri-tech innovators. Since 2016, the conference has served as a hub for discussions on market trends, sustainable business models, and the adoption of agricultural innovations.