A pilot project titled "Winter Onion of Ukraine" has been launched in the Odesa region by the All-Ukrainian Council of Women Farmers in collaboration with Seedon, a seed company from South Korea.
According to Lyudmyla Klebanova, head of the All-Ukrainian Council of Women Farmers, the first 5 hectares of winter onions using Korean technology have been planted at the "Pan Bilan" farm. Seedon provided the seeds and crop protection products, including growth stimulants. The Ukrainian side is responsible for cultivating the initial area and studying how Korean onion varieties perform under local climate conditions.
In 2025, the project aims to expand planting areas to 150–250 hectares. The next phase includes the creation of an onion cluster on 1,000 hectares, with planned investments totaling $10 million. The expected return from this industrial-scale production is estimated to be three times higher. The project includes a full cycle of onion production, from seed cultivation to storage, processing, logistics, and potentially export.
According to Seedon, global demand for onions grows by 4% annually. Winter onions are well-suited for cultivation by small and medium-sized farms. The project is primarily aimed at supporting women-led and family farms.
A $36 million onion processing plant is also planned as part of the broader initiative.
Source: agroportal.ua