Russia’s assault on Ukraine has severely disrupted the country’s agricultural systems, including the critical seed supply chains. In response, the Agriculture Growing Rural Opportunities (AGRO) Activity in Ukraine—supported by national stakeholders and international partners—is establishing four regional seed centers to strengthen domestic seed production and delivery systems. These centers will be instrumental in ensuring farmers’ access to quality seeds, thereby supporting food production and long-term agricultural recovery.

To lead these new institutions effectively, seed managers must develop advanced knowledge and skills in seed testing, processing, certification, enterprise management, and international collaboration. 

The response

As part of its multi-faceted efforts, AGRO is sponsoring a business-to-business (B2B) networking tour that directly addresses this need by offering first-hand exposure to a world-class seed science environment and the facilities and capacities of seed companies in the American Midwest.

The Seed Science Center (SSC) at Iowa State University (ISU) is implementing this B2B networking tour for 16 Ukrainian participants, including managers and specialists from seed centers and agricultural enterprises, as well as representatives from industry associations and government agencies. 

This experiential program is designed to enhance knowledge and strengthen institutional capacity in the Ukrainian seed sector, and foster business partnerships between Ukraine and the U.S. Through a combination of interactive workshops, expert-led seminars, site visits, and demonstrations, participants will gain firsthand insights into U.S. seed systems development, advanced technologies, and innovation in plant breeding and seed production.

This immersive experience aims to strengthen Ukraine’s seed infrastructure by providing direct exposure to the U.S. seed industry’s regulatory, research, and commercial ecosystems. It aligns closely with the U.S. Department of State’s goals of advancing food security, institutional resilience, and agricultural innovation in Ukraine.

The objectives

Specifically, the B2B networking trip aims to:

Explore advanced plant breeding practices. 

Familiarize participants with the latest trends and methodologies in plant breeding, including field testing of varieties and hybrids, data collection and analysis, evaluation of varietal potential, and assessment of resilience to climate challenges. Participants will also be exposed to organizational models of R&D centers, demonstration plots, and production facilities through visits to multinational, regional, and state seed companies, partner farms, service enterprises, and agrotechnology hubs in Iowa.

Examine innovative seed production and processing technologies. 

Investigate state-of-the-art techniques for seed production, processing, and quality certification as implemented by university and government research centers and stations, as well as leading U.S. seed companies.

Facilitate business partnerships and technology transfer. 

Establish direct contacts with U.S. seed companies to explore opportunities for joint research on American-bred varieties at Ukrainian Regional Seed Centers. Identify potential commercial cooperation models for promoting U.S. varieties and hybrids in Ukraine, including B2B meetings with seed companies, service providers, research centers, and industry associations.

Strengthen institutional and technological capacity. 

Build the capacity of Ukrainian Regional Seed Centers by fostering partnerships with U.S. industry leaders and promoting the transfer of knowledge, technologies, and best practices.