Entrepreneurship Support

Small and medium-sized agribusiness in Ukraine is critically important for the national economy as it ensures food security, creates jobs, and supports community stability.

However, small farms and agricultural enterprises face a number of systemic challenges that significantly limit their growth potential.

First, there is insufficient access to financing. Many farmers cannot obtain loans on favorable terms or attract investments for production modernization, especially when it comes to small farms without collateral or credit history.

Second, there is a lack of modern knowledge and skills in business planning, risk management, digitalization, and sustainable production. Many small farmers have experience in producing goods but often lack competencies in marketing, financial management, or adherence to sustainability principles.

Third, limited opportunities for professional networking and collaboration. Small enterprises often operate in isolation, without access to industry communities, experts, or large companies that could become potential partners or buyers of their products.

Another serious challenge for Ukrainian entrepreneurs is the full-scale Russian invasion. Some businesses have suffered destruction or lost markets due to disrupted logistics.

As a result, many farmers found themselves on the brink of survival, and restoring the agricultural sector has become a strategic task for both the state and businesses.

That is why, in 2022, PepsiCo, PepsiCo Foundation, together with the UN Global Compact Network Ukraine, launched the SEED project. The idea emerged in 2021, and in 2022 it proved its relevance. Its goal is to support small agricultural enterprises that strive to recover, grow, and implement sustainability principles in their operations.

SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM

SEED is an educational project that fosters the development of small agribusinesses and the implementation of the best business ideas in the agricultural sector.

For the fourth consecutive year, the initiative has supported micro and small businesses, helping entrepreneurs introduce innovative solutions in agriculture, develop sustainable practices, and strengthen local communities.

“SEED participants are ordinary people making extraordinary efforts to grow their businesses. Many entrepreneurs from the first waves of the SEED project already had small or micro agribusinesses. Some of their enterprises were damaged or destroyed due to Russian aggression in Ukraine, while others had to relocate to safer areas and start from scratch.

SEED also enabled those who had no operational business but came with a concept to turn their ideas into reality.”

– Tetiana Sakharuk, CEO of UN Global Compact Network Ukraine.

The SEED project is implemented by the UN Global Compact Network Ukraine with the support of PepsiCo and funding from PepsiCo Foundation. Project winners receive grants from PepsiCo Foundation, UN Global Compact Network Ukraine, as well as MHP and Syngenta.

RESULTS OF THE SOLUTION

The SEED project is an example of how joint efforts can achieve a common goal – developing a sustainable agricultural sector. Its results have both short-term and long-term impact:

Enhancing competencies and knowledge

After completing the training program, participants gain practical tools for effective business management: from financial planning to marketing strategies and innovation implementation.

Nearly 600 farmers have completed the training, and more than 55 have received grants to build, restore, or launch their businesses from scratch.

Job creation and economic activity growth

Grant support enables participants to invest in technical upgrades and develop sustainable practices in their businesses.

Building a community of responsible entrepreneurs

Networking creates an environment of mutual support and knowledge exchange, fostering a culture of responsible entrepreneurship based on openness, partnership, and sustainability.

Long-term impact

The SEED project demonstrates that education, community, mentorship, and financial assistance are effective tools for supporting businesses that grow even in times of crisis, rebuild communities, and shape a resilient Ukrainian economy.

Lessons and next steps

The key lesson: effective business support is possible when training is combined with financial assistance, as this approach allows entrepreneurs to apply their knowledge in practice.

Another insight: mentorship and peer-to-peer experience sharing are critical success factors.

PepsiCo and the UN Global Compact Network Ukraine continue to scale this initiative, expand partnerships, and create new opportunities for Ukrainian entrepreneurs.