For Ukrainian agribusiness, 2026 is not just another stage of adaptation to a wartime economy—it marks a strategic shift. Agribusiness capital is increasingly directed not toward expanding land banks, but toward processing, energy independence, alternative proteins, food manufacturing, and vertical integration. This is a rational response to changing global markets, constrained logistics, margin pressure, and the need to control the value chain “from field to shelf.”
Processing as the New Growth Platform
The key trend of 2026 is that major agricultural groups are definitively moving beyond the commodity model. Astarta is completing two large-scale projects: in Poltava region, Ukraine’s first soy protein concentrate plant with capacity of up to 100,000 tonnes per year (investment of up to $80 million), and in Khmelnytskyi region, a soy and rapeseed processing plant designed to handle 400,000 tonnes of feedstock annually, with a budget of $76 million. Both projects represent a bet on higher value-added feed and food markets.
Khmelnytskyi region, in general, is becoming a hub for oilseed processing. Alongside Kernel and Vitagro facilities, a cluster is forming that could be joined in 2026 by Epicentr Agro through its industrial park “Podillia–Horodok” project, including an oil extraction plant and a bioethanol facility.
Bioethanol and Alternative Energy from the Field
In 2026, bioethanol is no longer a niche product. OKKO is preparing to launch the first phase of a bioethanol plant with processing volumes of 200,000–250,000 tonnes of corn and output of up to 85,000 tonnes of bioethanol per year. At the same time, production of animal feed from dried distillers grains (DDGS)—a by-product with strong margins—is expected to expand.
MHP is moving even deeper into processing. In the first quarter of 2026, the group plans to launch a pilot industrial facility producing alternative protein from insects—a response to the global protein deficit and rising fishmeal costs. In addition, Cherkasy region will see the launch of Feednova Center, a feed additives and animal fats plant with investments exceeding €20 million.
Peas: From Export to Domestic Processing
In 2026, peas are gradually moving beyond purely export-driven logic. Higher planted areas in 2025, stable demand from the EU and Turkey, and experiments with domestic processing are creating a new niche. In Zhytomyr region, production of bio-adhesives from peas for MDF panels has already been launched; the raw material demand of such enterprises can reach up to 1 million tonnes per year—significantly above Ukraine’s current output.
In parallel, the company TERRA is preparing to launch Ukraine’s first production of pea protein and starch, aiming to substitute imported soy and corn ingredients. This is another signal: agribusiness is beginning to diversify crops not only for agronomic reasons, but also for industrial value-chain considerations.
Food Manufacturing: Products from the Shelf, Not the Elevator
Food processing becomes the second major magnet for capital in 2026. Nestlé plans to expand its vermicelli production facility in Volyn region. Under the Maggi brand, up to 75% of output is expected to be exported to the EU, while most raw materials remain Ukrainian.
In Kyiv region, Sol Union is investing UAH 200 million into the Neo Food System plant—producing chilled, frozen, and ready-to-eat meals with capacity of up to 60,000 portions per day. The launch is scheduled for 2026, targeting the fast-growing ready-to-eat segment.
Processing is also expanding in salt and berries—from industrial salt extraction in Odesa region to berry freezing operations in Kyiv region, with plans to scale capacity to 60 tonnes per day.
From Fields to Megawatts: Energy Independence as a Must-Have
In 2026, agribusiness is investing heavily in power generation. Kernel plans to build a 250 MW solar power plant in Chernivtsi region—expected to become the largest solar facility in western Ukraine. OKKO is commissioning the Ivanychi wind farm with capacity of 147 MW and has declared plans to grow its wind portfolio to 1 GW.
At the farm level, solar and biogas projects are increasingly used to reduce production costs. The example of Petrykivske Moloko shows that a 1 MW solar plant can cover up to half of internal electricity consumption. Biogas plants of 5 MW and above are becoming a natural extension for dairy and sugar assets.
Poultry, Milk, and Cheese: A Renewed Focus on Livestock
In livestock, 2026 is defined by eggs, meat, and dairy processing. Oliyar is investing in a poultry farm in Lviv region with potential output of over 1.6 million eggs per day. Western regions are also seeing new broiler complexes and poultry farms developed on the basis of former farm infrastructure.
Dairy is also moving toward deeper processing. Agroprodservice together with Molokiya plans a hard-cheese plant processing 100 tonnes of milk per day. In Poltava region, based on Hadiachsyr assets, a large-scale project is being prepared with potential capacity of up to 1,000 tonnes of milk per day and investments of around €180 million.
Privatization and Ports: Large Assets on the Horizon
A separate theme of 2026 is state-owned assets. The market may see the privatization of Sumykhimprom, a potential repeat sale of the Odesa Portside Plant, and concessions of terminal assets in the port of Chornomorsk. For agribusiness capital, this is an opportunity to integrate logistics, chemical inputs, and export channels into a single business model.
Investment Opportunity: Deep-Water Port & Rail Logistics Hub (100 ha) in Ukraine — Pivdennyi Sea Port
Summary
In 2026, Ukrainian agribusiness is investing not in hectares, but in control—control over processing, energy, logistics, and the final product. These направления—proteins, bioethanol, food manufacturing, renewables, and livestock—are shaping a new architecture of the sector. Ukrainian agribusiness is gradually transforming from a commodity exporter into an industrial producer built around a European value-added logic.
