Ukraine is launching a project to establish two innovative greenhouse hubs in Khmelnytskyi and the Bibrka community in Lviv region. The initiative is supported by €3.98 million (approximately US$4.5 million) in funding from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), while Dutch greenhouse technology company Delphy will serve as the project's key technical partner. The hubs are being developed under the Smart Harvest initiative to advance protected horticulture in Ukraine.
Each hub will include a 270-square-meter training center, 300 square meters of utility facilities, four demonstration greenhouses representing different production technologies—glass, polycarbonate, film, and container systems—ranging from 400 to 900 square meters, as well as renewable energy installations. The training buildings will be constructed using 3D-printing technology to improve construction efficiency.
Hydroponic greenhouse training programs are scheduled to begin in 2027, with approximately 500 specialists expected to be trained by mid-2029. The hubs will also serve as demonstration sites for advanced greenhouse technologies, energy-efficient systems, automation, and modern crop production methods.
Project organizers believe the initiative will accelerate the modernization of Ukraine's protected horticulture sector, reduce dependence on imported vegetables, improve the energy efficiency of greenhouse operations, and help address the shortage of qualified professionals. If successful, the model could be replicated in other regions of the country.