The creation of the International Farmers’ Association of Ukraine (International Farmers’ Association of Ukraine, IFA) has been announced, uniting European farmers who invest and conduct agricultural activities in the country. The announcement was made by the initiator of the association, former mayor of Hlukhiv in the Sumy region, Michel Tereshchenko, who has been elected President of the new organization.
The IFA brings together 63 family-run agricultural enterprises operating in Ukraine, cultivating land plots ranging from 300 to 22,000 hectares. The total land bank of the association’s members amounts to approximately 275,000 hectares. The investors include agricultural entrepreneurs from Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, and Scotland.
The association aims to consolidate the interests of European agricultural investors in Ukraine, protect their rights, and create a platform for engagement with Ukrainian authorities, international partners, and industry organizations.
According to Tereshchenko, European farmers already play a significant role in the development of rural areas in Ukraine. They invest in local infrastructure, including roads and water supply systems, support social projects, create jobs, pay taxes, and contribute to the development of local communities.
At the same time, foreign agricultural investors often face risks such as corporate raiding, bureaucratic pressure, and corruption, which became one of the key reasons for establishing a joint organization to protect investors’ rights.
The IFA is also expected to serve as a platform for knowledge exchange and partnership development between European and Ukrainian farmers, as well as to participate in discussions on agricultural sector reforms and negotiations related to Ukraine’s European integration.
Ukraine already has a number of industry associations in the agricultural sector, including the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation (UAC), the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB), the Organic Farmers Union of Ukraine, the Association of Milk Producers, and the Ukrainian Grain Association. The newly established IFA is intended to specifically represent the interests of foreign farmers and investors operating in Ukraine’s agricultural market.
