Despite wartime risks, labor shortages, logistical challenges, and increasing climate instability, precision agriculture in Ukraine continues to develop rapidly. In recent years, many farms have shifted their approach — from implementing technologies “for the sake of technology” to systematically managing field economics, risks, and profitability on every hectare.   Today, one of the key drivers of precision agriculture development in Ukraine is the rising cost of inputs and the need to maximize the efficiency of fertilizers, seeds, moisture, and machinery. As a result, farmers are increasingly focusing not only on yield potential, but also on return on investment, operational stability, and minimizing hidden losses caused by field variability.   This trend is evident both in large agricultural companies managing more than 100,000 hectares and in medium-sized and smaller farming operations. Several key trends can now be clearly observed across Ukrainian farms: a transition from uniform application rates across entire fields and broad “productivity zones” based solely on NDVI, toward management zones developed using detailed soil chemical analysis, topography, electrical conductivity, and yield maps; increased soil sampling resolution — from large 20–30 ha zones to grids and management zones with 1–5 ha precision; more active use of automated GPS-referenced soil sampling technologies; expansion of variable-rate applications for fertilizers, lime, nitrogen management, and variable-rate seeding; growing attention to soil pH, Ca–Mg–K balance, soil structure, and moisture management; increased use of data to evaluate “economically effective yield” rather than simply maximum crop yield potential. Ukraine’s 2026 planting season started 10–15 days later than usual due to a cold spring and low soil temperatures. At the same time, even under wartime conditions, GPS signal instability in certain regions, and a difficult economic environment, Ukrainian farmers continue implementing precision agriculture technologies.   Today, variable-rate application ...more

In 2024–2025, AgriLab, in partnership with the USAID Agriculture and Rural Development Program (AGRO), implemented a special initiative for micro, small, and medium-sized grain and oilseed producers in Ukraine.   The goal of the project was to improve farm efficiency through precision agriculture technologies including comprehensive soil analysis, satellite data, management zones, variable-rate seeding, and variable-rate fertilizer application.   The project involved 108 farms across 92,300 hectares.   Main project stages Stage 1. Comprehensive soil analysis GPS-referenced soil sampling was completed and samples were analyzed by Ward Laboratories, Inc. (USA). Farmers received detailed recommendations on nutrition, liming, and field variability management based on dozens of parameters including pH, salinity, macro- and micronutrients.   Stage 2. Economic and technical assessment Yield history, crop rotation, machinery, and farm resources were evaluated. Based on these data, prescription maps for variable-rate seeding and fertilizer application were created.   Stage 3. Implementation support AgriLab specialists supported field implementation including fertilizer forms, application timing, seeding strategies, and management-zone recommendations.   Stage 4. Monitoring and evaluation Crop development was monitored, field performance assessed, and recommendations prepared for the next season.   Key results Variable-rate seeding For fields with variability exceeding 50%, prescription maps were developed based on: elevation; soil organic matter; zone productivity potential. Results: Saved 1,600 corn seed units (127.9 million seeds) — equivalent to approximately 1,800 hectares of corn planting. Seed savings: $256,000 USD   Additional projected yield increase: +12,780 tons of grain or more than $2.52 million USD   Fertilizer Optimization Estimated additional economic benefit from increased yields following the implementation of variable-rate fertilizer application: $888,845    Estimated fertilizer cost savings achieved through variable-rate fertilizer application: $82,920    Total projected economic impact Combined expected results: fertilizer savings — $82,920 variable-rate fertilizer benefit — $888,840 seed savings — $256,000 additional crop value — $2,520,000+ Total: $3.75 million USD   Conclusion This ...more

Precision agriculture technology is readily available in the Ukraine. Many of the major PA companies from Europe and North America are represented. There are many Ukrainian start up companies providing PA services, such as drone images, soil testing and soil mapping. The large farming companies, like Kernel (www.kernel.ua), have experimented with a range of PA technologies including: use of satellite images, yield mapping, intensive soil sampling and variable rate technology for fertilizer and seed. There are no official statistics on PA adoption in Ukraine, but all indications are that other than Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), adoption of PA technologies is very limited.   ISPA member and Agrilabs co-founder Iaroslav Beiko says, “Ukraine is on the stage of studying and testing elements of precision agriculture, so if we are talking about using of separate elements of PA (use autopilot or automatic section control) are used up to 20% Ukraine's areas. If we are talking about systematic and conscious use of PA complex, from mapping of field properties to VRT of fertilizers and seeds, is used on the less than 5% of areas.“   Some industry sources suggest a slightly higher adoption, but tell the same underlying story. For example, the SmartFarming website says, “About 30% – this is the ratio of agriculture producers in Ukraine that implement precision farming technologies today. However, they usually limit this innovative technique to a single feature – an autopilot or a guidance system to avoid overlaps and gaps in the fields” (https://smartfarming.ua/en-blog/kak-nachat-vnedryat-tochnoe-zemledelie-na-predpriyatii)