The All-Ukrainian Association of Communities, together with the All-Ukrainian Farmers’ Congress and Yevhen Klopotenko’s Cult Food NGO, are joining forces to support local producers and community development. The parties have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation, which opens up new opportunities for craft businesses, tourism, and the creation of local brands.

How will this benefit communities?

• Support for farmers and craft producers. An ‘Entrepreneurship School for Farmers’ will be launched, where students will learn production technologies as well as branding, marketing, and the legal aspects of business.
• Development of local brands and tourism. Special training programmes will be developed for community representatives on creating unique brands and developing tourism strategies.
• Financial support. The partnership will assist in finding grants for production equipment, product branding and marketing promotion.
• New jobs and revenues. The promotion of craft products on Ukrainian and international markets will contribute to the creation of new jobs and an increase in tax revenues to local budgets.
• Popularisation of communities. Festivals, presentations of producers and communities, as well as work to identify and preserve intangible cultural heritage are planned.

Ivan Slobodianyk, Head of the All-Ukrainian Farmers’ Congress and Executive Director of the All-Ukrainian Association of Communities, noted, ‘Craft is not just about flavour or tradition. It is about the sustainability of communities and young people returning and staying because they see opportunities at home. It is about people who keep the local economy going with their own hands and strengthen the community.’

Renowned chef Yevhen Klopotenko added, ‘I have been travelling around Ukraine on expeditions for many years. Wherever I go, I see people doing incredible things... That is why we signed this Memorandum. Our shared objective is to empower Ukrainian farmers and assist communities in developing their own gastronomic culture. After all, farmers are our local heroes. And communities are where flavour is born.’

This cooperation is an effective means of promoting economic growth in communities, creating new opportunities and safeguarding the unique cultural heritage in each region of Ukraine.