On June 19th, the city of Lviv, Ukraine, hosted the inaugural all-Ukrainian forum titled “Intensive Vegetable Growing: Profiting from Greenhouses.” This significant event marked the first large-scale specialized gathering in Ukraine dedicated to greenhouse vegetable growing technologies. Organized by the publication “Gardening in Ukrainian” and the agricultural portal AgroTimes.ua, the forum attracted around 150 participants, including numerous newcomers to the greenhouse industry.
The forum provided participants with comprehensive market analytics on greenhouse vegetables, detailed information on programs supporting greenhouse construction, and expert advice on setting up modern greenhouses. Key topics included selecting seed material, protecting produce, ensuring quality, and effectively marketing the harvest. One of the initial presentations centered on state and non-state grant programs designed to support the greenhouse business.
Tetiana Hetman, an expert at the forum, emphasized the critical role of greenhouses in import substitution. Yevhen Kuzin, an analyst from the EastFruit project, provided a detailed market overview, underscoring the importance of technology in the greenhouse business. Technological advancements are essential in mitigating climate change impacts, reducing energy costs, and enhancing product quality. With global demand for greenhouse vegetables rising due to population growth and diminishing agricultural land, the relevance of such technologies is increasingly evident.
In Ukraine, there is significant potential to construct greenhouses using locally produced materials, including frames, automation systems, and irrigation equipment. The forum featured practical presentations from experienced greenhouse operators, which were particularly beneficial for newcomers. Volodymyr Rozhko, owner of Green Elevation LLC, shared his experience in creating a cost-effective greenhouse business plan. Vasyl Shcherbanyuk from Vegetable Base No. 1 LLC discussed the automation of greenhouse operations, highlighting that processes can be managed almost automatically, with carrots and sweet potatoes identified as the most profitable crops.
Contributions from partner companies were also noteworthy. Andriy Serbinov from Syngenta presented innovations and future prospects for the greenhouse industry. Serhiy Vdovenko from BTU-Center discussed the application of organic technologies and biopreparations, while Ivan Timoshchuk from Begrow shared insights into hydroponic vegetable cultivation.
The forum received positive feedback from participants, who expressed a strong desire for it to become a regular event, reflecting the growing interest and potential in Ukraine’s greenhouse vegetable growing sector.
