Supporting Agricultural Recovery in Ukraine Feasibility Study Initiated

Projects to achieve sustainable agriculture by restoring the production of sunflower seeds and major crops and mitigating soil contamination have been selected for UNIDO’s “Green industrial recovery project for Ukraine through technology transfer from and the co-creation of new businesses with Japan's private industries”

2025.04.03 11:00

Greein Inc.

Greein Inc. (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director CEO Takashi Togami; a leading provider of AI-based smart agriculture solutions; hereinafter “Greein”) has launched a Feasibility Study (FS:total budget: 398,827USD) on March 3, 2025. The FS is part of the “Green industrial recovery project for Ukraine through technology transfer from and the co-creation of new businesses with Japan's private industries” supported by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), funded by financial contribution of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, and is scheduled to last for 12 months.

Background and Objectives

Ukraine is one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of sunflower seeds, wheat, and corn and is notably the largest exporter of sunflower oil globally. However, the country was severely damaged by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and its production has been on a downward trend since before the war, mainly due to a decrease in harvested area caused by the occupation of farmland, destruction of agricultural infrastructure, and a decrease in the agricultural workforce. In addition, landmines and other explosives have caused serious heavy metals contamination in approximately 10.5 million hectares, representing about a quarter of Ukraine’s total farmland.

In response to these challenges, this study aims to improve agricultural resilience and productivity by examining the technological and economic effectiveness of an agribusiness model that is both data-driven and resource-recycling agribusiness model. This model integrates innovative technologies such as e-kakashi, an IoT sensing-based agricultural AI solution that Greein has developed domestically and internationally, satellite image analysis, and high-performance biochar application. By verifying the technological and economic effectiveness of the agribusiness model, the project aims to restore the production of sunflower seeds and other major crops in Ukraine, thereby realizing sustainable agriculture.

Contents of Feasibility Study

This study will initially examine ways to enhance the productivity and profitability of sunflower seeds and other major crops through the introduction of e-kakashi and other smart farming technologies. Secondly, remote sensing methods utilizing satellite imagery and drones will be developed to identify and assess agricultural lands contaminated by airstrikes and landmines. Subsequently we will verify the effectiveness of biochar in restoring contaminated soil and enabling sustainable agriculture in the future. Lastly, through the FS , we will aim to foster human resources capable of contributing to the agribusiness sectors, accelerating agricultural recovery, and addressing current labor shortages.

For this study, Greein was responsible for coordinating the overall research and developing the cultivation algorithm, and formed a consortium with FarmFleet, a Ukrainian start-up company specializing in agricultural drone services; Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, an university with crop and soil researchers in Ukraine; and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), which coordinates and monitors the activities of local stakeholders. The consortium aims to build an innovative, data-driven, and resource-recycling agribusiness model tailored to meet practical agricultural needs. Depending on the outcomes of the study, we aim to progress to the next stage of this project, the “Pilot Technology Demonstration” stage, if the FS report meets certain conditions, and contribute to the early recovery and sustainable medium-to long-term growth of Ukrainian agriculture.

Our Activities

イヴァン・フランコ記念リヴィウ国立大学の研究者へe-kakashiの取り扱いを説明(於ワルシャワ)

Explanation of e-kakashi to researchers at the Ivan Franco National University of Lviv (in Warsaw)

国連開発計画(United Nations Development Programme、略称：UNDP)と日本貿易振興機構(ジェトロ)主催の「メイド・イン・ウクライナ」ビジネス・フォーラムで行ったプレゼンの様子(於キーウ)

Presentation at the "Made in Ukraine" Business Forum organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) (in Kyiv)

Structure of Data-Driven Circular Agribusiness Model

データ駆動型・資源循環型アグリビジネスモデルのイメージ