As part of the implementation of the project AGREE: AI-Driven Agricultural Innovation Network: Rebuilding Ukraine’s Food Security and Alignment to EU, a working meeting was held between members of the project team and representatives of Agroprosperis Bank, which is a structural unit of the Agroprosperis agricultural holding (https://www.agroprosperis.com ). The meeting was devoted to discussing opportunities for future cooperation, as well as identifying key competencies and the content of training courses that may be useful for representatives of the agricultural sector.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the current knowledge and practical skills required by agricultural producers, agribusinesses, financial institutions, and other market participants.. Special attention was paid to the digital transformation of agribusiness, the use of artificial intelligence for managerial decision-making, financial planning, agricultural market analysis, risk management, logistics, and access of Ukrainian agricultural products to EU markets.

Cooperation with Agroprosperis Bank (https://ap-bank.com ) is important for the project, as the bank has deep expertise in the agricultural sector and specialises in financing agricultural producers. In particular, the bank’s experience and achievements in agricultural lending have been recognised by many industry awards. For four consecutive years, the bank has received the “Leader in Agribusiness Lending” award. Such practical experience enables a better understanding of the real needs of agribusiness, especially in financial instruments, credit and grant opportunities, risk assessment, digital analytics, and strengthening the resilience of agricultural enterprises.

The participants of the meeting also highlighted the need to strengthen business competencies related to the regulatory environment, Ukrainian and EU requirements, product safety, certification, and the export of agricultural products to the European Union. These issues are important for increasing the competitiveness of Ukrainian agribusiness and supporting its further integration into the European market.

The results of the meeting will be used to further refine the content of training materials, develop practice-oriented courses, and strengthen cooperation between academia and representatives of the agricultural business sector. This dialogue helps make the results of the AGREE project more applied, useful for business, and focused on the real challenges of Ukraine’s post-war recovery.