Publication date:
Publication from:
Just two words in the Global Statistics list “What People Think When They Hear These Countries Names”. They are the first things people abroad associate with Ukraine. Despite the war, Ukraine remains the world’s breadbasket. Our MilTech made a massive leap in just a couple of years to ensure survival and shows the results despite constant lack of people. We are now forced to jump as high in agriculture – and we’ve already started. The core is the same: drones, innovation, and the effective human-technology integration.
My goal is to transform Ukrainian farming in a way that every hectare works like a high-precision system and every farmer thinks like an investor. As the Head of the AgriTech Committee, I will continue implementing this vision through 2026. We are building a new standard for Ukrainian agribusiness – one that is efficient, transparent, and tech-driven. We are raising a new generation of farmers: a motivated digital community.
By 2035, the ag-robotics market will exceed $100 billion. This isn’t about fashion; it’s about survival. Without automation, the ag sector simply cannot scale while facing labor shortages and rising costs.
I predict that within 10 years, traditional machine operators as we know them will disappear. The major 2025 ag-tech expos were dominated by the full-line solutions for completely autonomous and remote fleet management. This year, we tested fully autonomous platforms in Ukrainian fields.
Operating modern ag-machinery follows the same principles as piloting a drone. It’s a unique opportunity to integrate military drone operators into the agri sector after the war. This industry already faces a massive labor deficit despite competitive salaries. Automation won’t just improve efficiency, it will have a profound social impact.
The “Investor Mindset” wins
The Ukrainian ag sector is moving away from chasing record yields toward managing profit per hectare or co-called “Digital EBITDA per hectare.”
In 2025, technologies like autopilots, RTK, and telemetry are no longer experiments for wealthy agri holdings, they are the standard setup for any farm. Precision has become a survival factor in the face of climate instability. We have the chance to skip several phases that Europe had to go through by jumping straight into digital and robotic farming.
Success comes to mindset and management quality. In just a few years, the number of skeptics has decreased, young managers are now setting the trends. I spend a lot of time in the fields, and I see the average age in the sector is around 40–45.
Maybe the hardest person to convince was my father, who runs a small farm. But successful case studies convince everyone eventually. The data on saved human-hours and resources impresses even the most experienced farmers because they know what it really costs to run a farm.
We are finally fixing the imbalance where million-dollar machines were utilized at less than half their potential. Owners now realize that investing a few extra thousand in precision agriculture technologies leads to massive resource savings and faster ROI. Financial accessibility and credit lines have been game-changers. Today, 90% of our clients are no longer large holdings, but small and medium farms (50–1,000 hectares). At FRENDT, we help them implement precision farming step-by-step, focusing on the practical adaptation of these innovations.
Is your bread already “AI-modified”?
The rapid growth of AI-driven solutions is the industry’s biggest trend. But to use AI tools for analytics and forecasting, you first need a proper system for collecting and validating data.
Our startup, FlyAgData, collects over 100 real-time metrics from the field. This is a massive amount of data that must be analyzed to make better decisions. Until we reach full robotization, AI acts as an assistant for less experienced agronomists. It works because AI acts as a “safety net,” reducing losses caused by human error.
AI in agriculture isn’t just “pretty pictures from drones.” It’s a direct reduction of operating costs by 10–30% through precise application and automated decision-making.
We are also moving toward using AI directly in cultivation. For example, spot-spraying automation via EcoRobotix ARA technology allows for 96% savings on fertilizers and crop protection through AI recognition. The fewer chemicals we use, the better it is for the environment and human health.
AI will turn fields into data-rich ecosystems where every intervention is optimized, chemical inputs are minimized, and biodiversity can thrive. Farmers will shift from physically demanding labor to strategic decision-making
said Aurélien G. Demaurex, co-founder of EcoRobotix, the high-precision spraying category leader and our partner
I couldn’t agree more!
One day, high-quality products will have a “digital passport” created by AI using blockchain – much like how expensive wines have a documented history of their vintage and weather conditions.
Preachers of Precision Farming
We started as missionaries, and we continue to advocate for precision technology at every level. This year, I’ve spoken at countless expos, panels, and industry events.
While agriculture is a strategic industry—contributing up to 20% of GDP and half of our exports – the responsibility for its development still rests almost entirely on the shoulders of private business. In the future, the state must step in, specifically to organize a national digital data hub. We haven’t had updated national soil data in almost half a century, even though the climate and other factors have changed drastically.
Education is another challenge. Curriculum is often disconnected from reality, forcing tech companies to train young talent themselves. This is why a core focus for FRENDT next year remains supporting education. We have already funded two R&D centers in Vinnytsia at the Agricultural and Polytechnic Universities. I’m glad our example has inspired other leading companies to invest in the technical labs needed to maintain sophisticated machinery.
The Future: Intelligence over Raw Materials
As part of the WINWIN Global Innovation Strategy 2030, Ukraine has adopted an AgriFoodTech strategy. Over the next five years, we must work hard to bring it to life. Ukraine needs to move from being a raw material supplier to a country that creates high-value intellectual and technological products.
In five years, the Ukrainian ag sector won’t be divided into “large and small,” but into “digital and unmanaged.” And this difference will be in profit, not in hectarage.
At FRENDT, we have evolved from selling hardware to providing comprehensive consulting. The AgriTech niche in Ukraine is not filled yet, and it represents a massive opportunity for our economy. Ukrainian farmers are resilient and motivated. We will continue to clear the path for them through data and automation.
Automation, robotics, and AI are not about replacing the farmer. They are about allowing the farmer to stop running between problems and finally start managing a business and predicting profit.
