9th International Scientific and Practical Conference “The Role of Youth in the Development of Ukraine’s Agricultural Sector”: The Future of Agribusiness is in Reliable Hands

On May 15–16, 2025, the Department of Production and Investment Management of the Faculty of Agrarian Management and the Department of Social Work and Rehabilitation of the Faculty of Humanities and Pedagogy at the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine (NULES) hosted the 9th International Scientific and Practical Conference titled “The Role of Youth in the Development of Ukraine’s Agricultural Sector.” The event brought together students, postgraduate researchers, young scholars, faculty members, agribusiness professionals, and representatives of the business community from across Ukraine and abroad. Co-organizers included Purdue University (USA), Fater Academy of India (India), Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic National University, and NTU “Dnipro Polytechnic.”

As per tradition, the conference was opened by Associate member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Doctor of Economics, Professor Lidiia Shynkaruk. In her welcoming address, Lidiia Shynkaruk reflected on the origins of the conference nine years ago, emphasizing the mission of the annual international conference “The Role of Youth in the Development of Ukraine’s Agricultural Sector” to create a platform for young people to exchange ideas, share scientific achievements, and present practical innovations in response to current challenges in the agricultural sector.

Participants were also welcomed by Professor Oksana Tonkha, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation at NULES and Doctor of Agricultural Sciences. Oksana Leonidivna underlined the critical role of youth in strengthening food security, revitalizing rural areas, and restoring national potential.

A warm and heartfelt greeting was extended by Dr. Paulina Kolisnichenko, Vice-Rector for International Cooperation at the Poznan Academy of Applied Sciences (Poland), who stressed that today’s world demands a new generation of professionals—competent, innovative thinkers equipped to thrive in dynamic environments.

Further welcome remarks were delivered by Inna Savitska, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Pedagogy of NULES of Ukraine, Candidate of Philosophical Sciences, Associate Professor; Larisa Karpenko, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Agrarian Management of NULES of Ukraine, Candidate of Economic Sciences, Associate Professor; Tetiana Vlasenko, Head of the Department of Production and Investment Management, Candidate of Economic Sciences, Associate Professor; Natalia Tilikina, Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work and Rehabilitation, Candidate of Economic Sciences, Chair of the NGO “Institute of Youth,” and expert in youth policy and child rights. They all emphasized the essential role of youth in transforming the agricultural sector, noting that young professionals bring fresh perspectives and unconventional solutions to complex problems.

As is customary, the conference was moderated by students. First-year Bachelor’s students of the Management program, Anastasia Solomakha and Artem Diskovskyi, demonstrated professionalism in coordinating the event, introducing speakers, and managing both in-person and online participation.

Within the framework of the 9th International Scientific and Practical Conference “The Role of Youth in the Development of Ukraine’s Agricultural Sector,” reports were presented on a variety of topics:

• Innovative technologies in agricultural production
• The role of digitalization
• Youth involvement in shaping modern agricultural policy
• Ukrainian agricultural diplomacy
• Mechanisms for adapting European inclusion models to the Ukrainian context during wartime

Notable presentations were delivered by Zoryana Kosmynska, Head of Communications for the Kyiv City Youth Council, Bachelor’s students Olena Silenko (“Public Administration and Management”), Stanislav Shundryk (“International Relations”), Lilia Ivanova and Mishel Andros (“Management”), as well as Ukrainian students currently studying abroad — Veronika Hlynskaya (Poland), Lesya Yevstratenko (Poland), and Yelyzaveta Ageyeva. Postgraduate students from the Faculty of Humanities and Pedagogy of the NULES of Ukraine also contributed, including Olena Yatsenko, Yevhen Zakarchenko, Oleksandr Alekseyev, Andriy Halanyn, Anna Arbachevska, and others.

It is worth noting that this conference was held as part of the Jean Monnet Module project “Social and Economic Inclusion Practices in the EU” (ERASMUS+, 101127466 – EPSEI – ERASMUS-JMO-2023-HEI-TCH-RSCH). These themes were further explored in the specialized section “EU Practices in the Development of Social and Economic Inclusion of Youth.”

Thanks to the international academic participation, the conference served as a unique platform for intercultural dialogue and knowledge exchange. Distinguished speakers included: Jakub Babola from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Sweden); Giulia Lo Porto, Doctor of Pedagogy, University of Rome (Italy); Bai Dungshen, Yu Yanchang, Li Jiuntan, Chen Jingwei, and Zhou Ganwei from Pingdingshan Polytechnic College (China). Participants gained insight into global best practices in education, scientific research, and innovation implementation.

Of special note were the youngest contributors—10th and 11th grade students from Kyiv Secondary School No. 166. Their presentations stood out for their novelty, critical thinking, and creative approaches. Notable among them were Sofia Blyzniuk, Hanna Horobets, and Taras Katsalap. Their scientific mentors were sincerely thanked for their guidance.

In her closing remarks, Lidiia Shynkaruk noted that the participants’ presentations clearly demonstrated not only a strong desire but also a deep understanding of contemporary issues. The youth’s energy, creativity, and scientific mindset are precisely what Ukraine needs for sustainable development.

The 9th International Scientific and Practical Conference “The Role of Youth in the Development of Ukraine’s Agricultural Sector” showcased the broad scope of research interests among young scientists and reaffirmed the significance of their contributions to Ukraine’s reconstruction and future prosperity. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all participants and wish the next generation of scholars continued success in science and education.

Anna DERGACH
Associate Professor,
Department of Production and Investment Management