In October 2026, two Ukrainian organic farms hosted field workshops for agricultural producers, farmers and agronomists. The workshops aimed to share best practice in organic production, deepen agronomic knowledge, develop practical skills and facilitate the exchange of experience among participants from the organic sector.
Participants explored practical solutions for developing berry businesses, conserving soil moisture, making effective use of crop residues and maintaining soil fertility.
The workshops were organised by certification body LLC “Organic Standard”, and public association “Green Agro Solutions”, with the support of Switzerland within the Swiss-Ukrainian Programme “Higher Value Added Trade from the Organic and Dairy Sector in Ukraine” (QFTP).
Developing a berry business: experience from APC “Yahidky” organic farm
The “Blueberries: Technologies for a Profitable Business” workshop took place at APC “Yahidky”, (TM “BigBlue”), an organic berry farm in Kyiv region. Participants explored how the blueberry-growing business has evolved over the past ten years, the factors affecting production competitiveness, and the technological solutions that could support the development of berry farms between 2026 and 2035.
The programme combined insights from the farm owner, expert input from an agricultural technologist, and a practical session led by the farm’s chief agronomist on site. This format enabled participants to examine blueberry cultivation under real production conditions and discuss approaches to planning the future development of their berry businesses.
Conserving soil moisture, composting and soil health: a workshop at PE “Galeks-Agro”
The field workshop “Moisture. Plant Nutrition. Soil Biota. Organic Field Management Practices” was held at the organic farm PE “Galeks-Agro” in Zhytomyr region. It focused on techniques for conserving soil moisture, managing crop residues, optimising plant nutrition, and maintaining soil biological activity.
Participants learned about soil cultivation machinery, including Lemken Rubin cultivators, and discussed approaches to stubble cultivation and the incorporation of crop residues to conserve moisture and improve soil condition.
Composting was another key focus. At the farm’s operational composting site, participants learned about the components of compost, the main stages of production, process and quality control, and the use of finished compost on the farm. Discussions also covered the role of organic matter and soil biota in plant nutrition.
Applying practical experience on the farm
Both workshops aimed to help farmers better understand modern agricultural technologies, assess their practical value and identify solutions suited to the needs of their own farms.
Field workshops are one of the ways of supporting the agricultural sector, particularly organic production. They help disseminate practical knowledge and strengthen producers’ capacity to make informed decisions on farming practices and farm management.
The workshops were organised by the certification body LLC “Organic Standard” and public association “Green Agro Solutions”, with support of Switzerland within the Swiss-Ukrainian Programme “Higher Value Added Trade from the Organic and Dairy Sector in Ukraine” (QFTP), implemented by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL, Switzerland) in partnership with SAFOSO AG, (Switzerland).