The Ukrainian Agri Council (UAC), together with the Consulting Center of the Association of Milk Producers and Mercy Corps, held a webinar for owners, managers, and specialists of Ukrainian dairy farms titled: “Development of Ukraine’s Dairy Sector under European Integration: Knowledge, Standards, Support.”

More than 70 representatives of dairy farms received practical tools to adapt their operations to new EU standards, recommendations on preparing for inspections without unnecessary risks, and expert advice on maintaining herd productivity and improving milk quality. Participants also learned about currently available support programs for livestock farms under Mercy Corps’ agricultural support initiative in Ukraine.

During the webinar, Anastasiia Makarova, Agricultural Service Provider Engagement Manager at Mercy Corps, presented six support направления for agricultural producers with funding ranging from USD 3,000 to 150,000. The programs include financial assistance for households to improve technical capacity, support for enterprises critical to local economies, dedicated instruments for women farmers combining grants and training, and assistance for institutions — including state institutions — whose activities cover a large number of producers.

In addition to funding, farmers can access advisory support on legal, tax, accounting, and land matters, which is especially important for enterprises operating with limited human and financial resources.

Hanna Lavreniuk, CEO of the Association of Milk Producers, outlined key EU integration requirements for dairy farms, particularly regarding cattle welfare, staff certification, and inspection procedures. She highlighted current legislation regulating animal housing conditions and qualification requirements for dairy farm personnel, with particular attention to Order No. 224 concerning the welfare of calves aged 0–6 months.

The trade dimension was also addressed. Under the updated DCFTA 2 agreement, which entered into force on October 29, 2025, duty-free quotas for Ukrainian dairy products — including butter, skimmed milk powder, and condensed milk — were significantly expanded. At the same time, Ukraine committed to harmonizing production standards by 2028 in areas such as animal welfare, veterinary regulation, pesticides, GMOs, and environmental protection.

Valerii Lototskyi, PhD in Veterinary Sciences and Director of the Consulting Center of the Association of Milk Producers, focused on the impact of udder health on cow productivity and milk quality. He outlined the economic losses caused by mastitis, including reduced yields, lower product quality, and additional treatment costs, emphasizing the importance of systematic preventive work at farm level.

At the conclusion of the webinar, Dmytro Kokhan, Deputy Chairman of the Ukrainian Agri Council (UAC), and Serhii Taraniuk, Manager of the Consulting Center of the Association of Milk Producers, presented a new project component aimed at supporting small and medium-sized dairy farms in frontline regions. The initiative is implemented by the UAC and the Consulting Center in partnership with Mercy Corps.

The project’s goal is to strengthen the economic resilience of dairy farms through comprehensive technological, advisory, and veterinary support, while preparing farms to meet EU standards — including implementation of production protocols, milk quality control, documentation and traceability systems, and herd health management.

Support will be provided to 100 dairy farms, with priority given to enterprises located in regions most affected by the war: Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Chernihiv, Odesa, Kyiv, Poltava, Cherkasy, and Kirovohrad regions.

Participation conditions:

• The farm maintains up to 750 dairy cows and is located in a target project region;
• The farm covers 50% of service costs — UAH 45,000, while the remaining 50% is covered by the project.

To apply, complete the form at: https://forms.gle/aJ8jzjWb6h6FDQcb8

For additional information, please contact: +38 067 474 85 35

Background:

MERCY CORPS is an international humanitarian organization operating in more than 40 countries worldwide, providing assistance to people affected by disasters, wars, poverty, and the impacts of climate change.