For the first time, CIHEAM Bari will be active in Ukraine as part of an initiative seeking to promote sustainable agricultural development and enhance food security in the rural areas of the Odessa Oblast.

The agreement to launch the Pro.UKR project, funded by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, was signed in Kyiv with Ukraine’s Minister of Agriculture, Vitaly Koval, attending the event.

The programme, led by CIHEAM Bari in partnership with Ukraine’s Ministry of Agriculture and the Odessa Regional Administration, will be implemented in the central area of Odessa region. It aims to boost the technical and productive capacities of local farmers by providing resources for agricultural and livestock production, introducing innovative technologies, and promoting sustainable irrigation systems. Furthermore, the project  will support the development of small farmers’ associations and assist the Ministry of Agriculture in aligning with the EU Acquis Communautaire.

The initiative is part of Italy’s commitment to supporting Ukraine’s economic recovery and tangibly contributes to the resilience of the country’s agri-food sector in the ongoing challenging scenario.