On 17 November 2020, the constituent meeting of the dairy sector service providers in the frame of the Swiss-Ukrainian Program “Higher Value Added Trade from the Organic and Dairy Sector in Ukraine” (hereinafter – the Program) was held.
The Program aims to strengthen service provision in the Ukrainian dairy sector by establishing a competence and knowledge network. Proper technical expertise and consultancy will be in demand in view of implementation of the new food legislation. With this purpose, the Program strives to support the capacity development activity for the knowledge and competence network participants.
First, the dairy sector service providers answered a focused online survey. 37 respondents (laboratories, agricultural extension services, consultants, scientific and educational institutions) from 11 oblasts of Ukraine responded and evaluated their capacity building needs. The survey is still open for the service providers willing to join the cooperation with the Program and available on: https://survey.fibl.org/index.php/125729?lang=uk
The main objective of the constituent meeting was to introduce the Program’s goal and objectives and define the opportunities and format of cooperation with the dairy sector service providers.
In her welcome speech, Manon Schuppers, Director of SAFOSO AG, noted:
Service providers are extremely important for the Program activity, as they deal with the raw milk safety and quality issues in Ukraine. A large number of participants have gathered today, and each of you can share your wealth of experience and expertise. Together we can use this common experience and I am sure that the discussion will be fruitful, effective and strengthen everyone’s knowledge and skills. This will allow learning from each other and move ahead.
During a separate session, every participant had an opportunity to introduce themselves and briefly tell about their activities. Iryna Vysotska, Dairy Sector Component Coordinator, stressed the importance of the Program partners’ capacity development. In the framework of cooperation with the network of service providers, support to every participant, experience exchange as well as joint events on raising the awareness about importance of quality and safe milk productions are planned.
Olena Rodnina, Dairy Sector Component Expert, introduced the participants to the training for trainer approach, training plan and format. The training plan provides for an interactive online and practical training with further adaptation to the needs of the target audience.
This event was organized with support of Switzerland within the framework of the Swiss-Ukrainian Program “Higher Value Added Trade from the Organic and Dairy Sector in Ukraine” implemented by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL, Switzerland) in partnership with SAFOSO AG (Switzerland).
