An expert shares insights on the state of agricultural machinery manufacturing and the impact of AI on the sector
The premier agricultural event of spring in Ukraine, the Field Day “AGRO CHALLENGE” 2026, is scheduled for May 20-21. This event marks the beginning of a series of agricultural exhibition activities that Agro Team Expo, a leader in the industry’s MICE sector, has been organizing for over a decade.
This year, AGRO CHALLENGE has significantly expanded, with the number of exhibiting companies exceeding two hundred. This necessitated a change in venue and the enlargement of demonstration areas. Consequently, the event will be held on the experimental fields of the Institute of Mechanics and Automation of Agricultural Production of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences, located in the village of Olenivka, Kyiv region. In total, Agro Team Expo will conduct eight field events for agrarians this year.
Although the participants of AGRO CHALLENGE cover virtually the entire agricultural production cycle, the main focus of the event is innovative agricultural machinery, with a key advantage being the opportunity to test it under real field conditions.
In anticipation of the event, Agro Team Expo engaged in a conversation with Valeriy Adamchuk, a leading Ukrainian expert in agricultural mechanics and the Director of the Institute of Mechanics and Automation of Agricultural Production of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine. We asked this renowned Ukrainian scientist and inventor about the current state of agricultural machinery manufacturing and his expectations for the event.
Valeriy Adamchuk
Agro Team Expo: Valeriy Vasylyovych, how many enterprises are currently operating in Ukraine’s agricultural machinery manufacturing sector?
- Precise figures are unavailable, but considering the extent of occupied territories, we can estimate that over 160 enterprises are currently functioning.
Agro Team Expo: Within the losses inflicted upon agriculture by the war, approximately $6 billion is attributed to destroyed agricultural machinery, with over 18,000 tractors alone lost. How has this factor influenced demand from farmers?
- The loss of agricultural machinery by farmers amidst the war has undeniably intensified the need for its acquisition. A certain increase in demand is expected, further supported by the program compensating 25% of the cost of domestically produced agricultural machinery and equipment.
According to information from the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agricultural Development of Ukraine, a record was set in March under this program: agrarians purchased domestic machinery worth 1.7 billion UAH. A total of 1,113 agricultural producers received compensation amounting to 353.8 million UAH for the purchase of 2,316 units of machinery and equipment.
This represents the largest monthly compensation sum since the program’s reinstatement in 2024.
Overall, from April 2024 to March 2026 inclusive, over 10,000 agricultural producers and processing enterprises have utilized the program. They acquired nearly 17,000 units of machinery and equipment valued at a total of 12,200 million UAH (including VAT). The state has disbursed 2.6 billion UAH in compensation.
Farmers and agro-processors from frontline territories will be eligible for a 40% compensation of the cost (excluding VAT) when purchasing agricultural machinery and equipment manufactured in Ukraine.
Agro Team Expo: What shifts have you observed in the demand structure for agricultural machinery over the past four years?
- In recent years, there has been an increased demand for powerful tractors, combine harvesters, soil cultivation and seeding complexes, self-propelled sprayers, grain dryers, and similar equipment.
Agro Team Expo: Is there a demand for specific types of agricultural machinery from the Armed Forces of Ukraine? If so, which types? To what extent does military demand shape the industry?
- If such demand exists, it is localized and does not constitute a defining factor for the industry on a broad scale.
Agro Team Expo: Do you agree that the future of agricultural machinery manufacturing lies in maximum robotization and the autonomy of machines from human operators?
- Given the scarcity of labor, rising wage costs, and the need for human and environmental protection, robotization is a logical response to these challenges.
Agro Team Expo: How do you assess the implementation of artificial intelligence in Ukrainian agricultural machinery manufacturing?
- It is a highly significant, yet ultimately auxiliary, tool.
It is regrettable that businesses, when promoting AI, attribute properties to it that it does not inherently possess.
Agro Team Expo: How crucial is the influence of agricultural machinery in enhancing productivity and increasing yields?
- The average power of machinery has been steadily increasing in recent years, accompanied by higher working speeds, the integration of operations, and the automation of technological processes. All these factors contribute to increased productivity. For instance, the use of navigation systems allows for more precise technological operations at higher working speeds. Moreover, these operations can be performed not only during the day but also at night.
In general, this approach achieves an almost twofold increase in productivity.
Increased yields are achieved through the timely and higher-quality execution of technological operations and a reduction in harvest losses during collection.
Agro Team Expo: What is the annual volume of key machinery types required by Ukrainian agriculture?
- Based on technological needs, farmers should annually acquire approximately 15,000 tractors, up to 6,000 grain harvesting combines, over 2,500 combined soil cultivation machines, more than 1,800 soil cultivation and seeding complexes, and nearly 3,000 sprayers, among others.
However, demand is one aspect, while financial capacity is entirely different. There is ample supply of all types of machinery in global markets; the constraint is the availability of funds.
Agro Team Expo: What is the seasonal workload per unit of agricultural machinery in Ukraine, and how does this figure compare to European countries?
- The seasonal workload on machinery varies significantly and depends on numerous factors. However, based on available information, it can be concluded that the annual workload on machinery for foreign farmers, under similar conditions, is 2.5 to 3.0 times less than for domestic farmers.
Agro Team Expo: How critical are field demonstrations and testing when selecting machinery? Is it possible to forgo them?
- Yes, field demonstrations and testing are of paramount importance when selecting machinery. The absence of comparative equipment trials creates highly unfavorable conditions for farmers in making purchasing decisions regarding what to acquire and from whom.
Agro Team Expo: Do you personally attend agricultural EXPOs and agricultural machinery exhibitions, specifically the “Agro Challenge” 2026 Field Day? What do you focus on primarily?
- I do attend. I primarily focus on novel technical solutions.
From the Editors:
You can see these innovative machinery solutions in action and interact with experts on May 20-21 at the “AGRO CHALLENGE” 2026 Field Day.
The meeting point is the experimental fields of the Institute in the village of Olenivka.
In times of unprecedented challenges, the synergy of science, business, and technology becomes the key to resilience. AGRO CHALLENGE 2026 aims to unite those ready to implement changes today, ensuring food security and elevating the quality of the Ukrainian agricultural sector on the global stage.
See you in the field!
