Digital services for the rebuilding of rural areas in Ukraine

Jul 7, 2026, 4:54:27 PM
Daniela Schimming , Leibniz-Institut für Agrarentwicklung in Transformationsökonomien (IAMO)

The “Community Geo-Investment Passport” is presented as a key tool; it combines open data, satellite information and locally validated data to highlight investment potential and facilitate the planning of development projects. The findings show that digital services can make a significant contribution to economic development and the rebuilding of rural areas if they are embedded in local administrative structures, supported by targeted capacity-building and based on transparent data systems. At the same time, they highlight the importance of knowledge transfer, institutional cooperation and the active involvement of local stakeholders for a successful digital transformation. This policy brief was written as part of the project “Digital Transformation for Sustainable Development: German-Ukrainian Perspectives for Future Agricultural and Food Systems in Europe” (DigiAgrar_UA), funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Four international expert roundtables and the DigiAgrar_UA workshop held in November 2025 at IAMO in Halle (Saale) provided important impetus. The discussions made it clear that the digital transformation of Ukraine’s agri-food sector is largely driven by close cooperation between businesses, research institutions, start-ups and political stakeholders. Valuable insights were provided by the experiences of leading Ukrainian agricultural and IT companies such as Astarta Holding, EOS Data Analytics, SmartFarming, TG Consulting, UNIT.City and the Ukrainian Startup Fund. These organisations develop and implement innovative digital solutions in close cooperation with universities, research institutions, start-ups and international partners. In doing so, they promote the transfer of knowledge between academia and practice and help to integrate modern technologies – such as geodata analysis, satellite monitoring, artificial intelligence, digital platforms and data-driven management systems – more rapidly into agricultural production and the wider agri-food sector. “The experience gained from POLIDIH and the contributions of leading Ukrainian agricultural and IT companies show that digital technologies can make a significant contribution to increasing productivity, improving market transparency and strengthening competitiveness,” says IAMO researcher Dr Oleksandr Perekhozhuk. “Innovations realise their full potential particularly where academia, industry and politics work closely together.” IAMO Policy Brief 52 “Digital solutions and services for rural communities: Lessons learned from the Polissia Digital Innovation Hub (POLIDIH)” was published in German, English and Ukrainian. The issues can be downloaded free of charge on the following website: http://www.iamo.de/en/iamo-policy-briefs. About IAMO The Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO) analyses economic, social and political processes of change in the agricultural and food sector, and in rural areas. The geographic focus covers the enlarging EU, transition regions of Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe, as well as Central and Eastern Asia. IAMO works to enhance the understanding of institutional, structural and technological changes. Moreover, IAMO studies the resulting impacts on the agricultural and food sector as well as the living conditions of rural populations. The outcomes of our work are used to derive and analyse strategies and options for enterprises, agricultural markets and politics. Since its founding in 1994, IAMO has been part of the Leibniz Association, a German community of independent research institutes. Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO) Theodor-Lieser-Str. 2 06120 Halle (Saale) Germany http://www.iamo.de/en