On June 4–5, 2026, Kyiv hosted Grain Ukraine, one of the key professional platforms for Ukraine’s agricultural market. The event brought together more than 600 participants and over 50 speakers, including agricultural executives, traders, logistics operators, bankers, investors, government representatives and international experts. The central theme was “The New Grain Order,” reflecting the changes driven by the war, geopolitical shifts, climate risks and the transformation of global trade.
Held since 2016, Grain Ukraine provides a platform for discussing market trends, sustainable business models and technological innovations. In 2026, the programme featured eight thematic sessions. Discussions focused not only on the current season but also on the prospects for Ukraine’s agricultural sector over the next 20–25 years. Participants addressed a strategic question: will Ukraine remain primarily a supplier of raw materials, or will it be able to export technologies, services, expertise and higher-value products?
A separate section focused on Ukraine’s integration into the European Union. Experts discussed future trade rules, quotas, regulations and compromises after the end of temporary preferential arrangements. For Ukrainian companies, this means accelerating the adaptation of production, traceability and documentation to European requirements. At the same time, European integration provides access to new partnerships, capital and technologies, while also intensifying competition and increasing the need for investment in modernisation.
Another important topic was the changing economics of the grain business. Rising production, logistics, insurance and financing costs are effectively bringing the era of the “low-cost agricultural model” to an end. Companies must manage costs more precisely, improve efficiency and preserve margins in a market where buyers increasingly dictate the terms. Participants identified deeper grain and oilseed processing, agricultural technologies, market diversification and the transition from raw-material exports to comprehensive solutions as promising areas for development.
Considerable attention was paid to logistics under geopolitical pressure. Ukrainian exports cannot depend on a single port, corridor or group of buyers. Businesses therefore need interchangeable maritime and overland routes, as well as contingency plans. Participants also discussed investment, M&A transactions and agricultural companies’ access to finance in a high-risk environment. Bioenergy was another important topic: producing bioethanol, biogas and other forms of energy from agricultural raw materials could provide additional revenue and strengthen business resilience.
Key speakers included representatives of the government, agricultural holdings, port operators, banks and international companies, such as Oleksii Sobolev, Andrey Stavnitser, Yevgen Osypov, Georg von Nolcken, Petr Krogman, Cesar Soares, Jonathan Grange and Taras Vysotskyi. The conference also featured an exhibition area for logistics, financial, legal, insurance and technology companies, as well as networking opportunities for establishing new professional contacts.
The Agroholding MENORAH team, led by the company’s CEO, Artur Zolotarevskyi, also participated in Grain Ukraine 2026. The conference provided an opportunity to discuss changes in trade and logistics directly with market representatives, assess new financial instruments, exchange practical experience and strengthen business partnerships. The event’s main conclusion is that the future competitiveness of Ukrainian agribusiness will depend not only on harvest volumes but also on its ability to quickly adapt logistics routes, expand processing, attract capital, introduce new technologies and offer the global market more than grain.