CraftUP Ukraine

Ivan Marakhonko, a displaced person from Donetsk region who is now serving in the military, relocated to Kyiv region back in 2018 due to active hostilities in his home region. It was then that he became interested in producing original adjika.

In autumn, there are plenty of apples in Zakarpattia. Sometimes, too many. They fall into the grass and lie beneath old trees. Until the 2000s, these apples could usually be sold for fairly good money. However, 15–20 years ago, people did not know what to do with their harvest. Old orchards began to decline, and local residents saw no point in taking care of the trees because they had stopped generating income. The work invested in them was no longer worthwhile, either financially or emotionally.

The story of natural ice cream under the FUNNY BEAR brand (Vinnytsia) began in 2006, when the founder of the production, Viktoriia Lukashova, went to Germany for an internship. It was there that she realised that the future belonged to natural products.

Participants in the CraftUP Ukraine educational and grant project have completed the training programme and received certificates.

The Dvir Indyka craft production business in Poltava Region raises more than 2 tonnes of turkey meat per year, of which only 20% is processed. Its product range includes sausages and frankfurters, as well as various smoked products. The farmers plan to build a fully equipped processing facility, modernise the infrastructure and produce a product unique to the Ukrainian market — jamón made from a turkey leg. To do this, they need a climate-controlled chamber.

As part of the CraftUP Ukraine educational grant programme, ten finalists have been selected to present their business ideas to the Expert Council. Following the evaluation, the most promising projects will receive funding to scale up production, implement certification, and expand into new markets.

The educational phase of CraftUP Ukraine, an educational and grant programme for craft food producers, has been successfully completed, bringing together 40 participants from 19 regions of Ukraine.

On March 19, in Kyiv, the online edition AgroPortal.ua together with Pro-Consulting and with the support of the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands presented a study of the market of craft food producers.

Craft production is actively developing in Ukraine, becoming an important element of the rural economy. At the same time, the sector remains vulnerable and needs systemic support.