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Overview of the Industry Business Mission to Spain: Horticulture and Berry Growing — AgroInnovation Exchange: Ukraine – Spain

Industry Business Mission to Spain: Horticulture & Berry Farming

From June 15 to 22, 2025, a sector-specific business mission to Spain took place, focusing on the development of horticulture, berry production, cultivation technologies, and international cooperation between Ukrainian and Spanish agribusinesses.

The mission was organized by the Ukrainian Municipal Economic Development Agency (UMEDA), the Mayors’ Club of Ukraine, and ALLE FOOD UA – SUPER UNION, with the participation of the Ukrainian Blueberry Growers Association.

The main regions covered by the program were Murcia and Huelva — two important centers of Spanish horticulture, vegetable production, and berry cultivation.

Mission Objective

The main objective of the trip was to create a practical AgroInnovation Exchange between Ukraine and Spain by establishing direct contacts between producers, technology companies, industry associations, cooperatives, and potential partners.

Special attention was given to:

modern technologies for growing berries, fruits, and vegetables;
greenhouse technologies;
breeding and new varieties;
post-harvest handling and storage;
exports and access to international markets;
development of cooperation between Ukrainian and Spanish companies;
identifying technology partners for Ukrainian agricultural projects.

Murcia: Technologies, Greenhouses and Industry Cooperation

The first part of the program took place in Murcia — one of Spain’s key agricultural regions.

The Ukrainian delegation visited ProExport — the Association of Producers and Exporters of Fruits and Vegetables of the Murcia Region. During the meeting, participants learned about the association’s experience, its mechanisms for representing business interests, and opportunities for cooperation with Ukrainian companies.

An important part of the program included visits to modern production and technology facilities, including J. Huette International, a company specializing in the development, production, and supply of greenhouse structures, technological components, and cultivation systems.

Technological solutions for protecting berry plantations from spring frosts were also discussed separately — an issue of practical importance for Ukrainian growers.

Huelva: Experience from One of Europe’s Leading Berry-Producing Regions

The next destination was Huelva — a region specializing in the production and export of strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries.

Mission participants attended the International Red Fruit Congress, which celebrated its 10th edition in 2025. The congress brought together growers, exporters, marketing companies, technology providers, breeders, and other stakeholders from the berry industry.

For Ukrainian companies, this provided an opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the development of Spain’s berry sector and establish professional contacts with international market players.

From Production to Export

The program included visits to leading berry-producing companies in Huelva.

In particular, the delegation visited Surexport — a producer of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries operating in international markets. The company cultivates approximately 1,600 hectares of berry crops.

The delegation also visited the Cuna de Platero cooperative, which grows strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries across approximately 900 hectares, with a significant share of its production exported to international markets.

Another important visit was to BerryWorld Iberia, which provides technical support to growers in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco and develops its own research and breeding programs for berry crops.

Breeding and Innovation

A separate focus of the mission was an introduction to modern breeding approaches.

The Ukrainian delegation met with representatives of Fresh Forward España, which specializes in apple and strawberry breeding.

This gave participants an opportunity to see how the combination of breeding, cultivation technologies, marketing, and end-consumer requirements contributes to the development of a competitive berry and horticulture business.

Cooperation as a Foundation for Development

An important part of the program was an introduction to Spain’s cooperative model.

In Bonares, the delegation met with the town’s mayor, Juan Antonio Garcia, and visited the Bonafru Bonares cooperative.

The history of Bonafru demonstrates how cooperation among farmers and the gradual diversification of production can create a resilient agricultural structure. The cooperative began with the cultivation and sale of figs and later expanded into the production of strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries.For Ukrainian communities and agricultural producers, this experience has practical value in the context of developing cooperation, shared infrastructure, processing, logistics, and access to international markets.

Ukrainian Producers on the Spanish Market

During the mission, the Ukrainian Blueberry Growers Association was presented to Spanish partners, and opportunities for exporting Ukrainian products to the Spanish market were discussed.

The frozen berry sector was also presented separately — within the mission, ALLE FOOD UA brought together seven producers from seven regions of Ukraine.

Thus, the mission served not only as an opportunity to learn from Spain’s experience, but also as a platform for presenting the potential of Ukraine’s berry and horticulture sectors.

From a Business Mission to Long-Term Projects

One of the key outcomes of the trip was the establishment of new professional contacts between Ukrainian and Spanish companies.

The mission enabled Ukrainian producers to connect simultaneously with potential distributors, technology partners, industry associations, cooperatives, and manufacturers. This helps reduce the time required to identify suitable partners and move from a general exchange of experience toward specific areas of cooperation.

Of particular importance is the opportunity to adapt Spanish technological solutions to Ukrainian production conditions — from greenhouse complexes and cultivation systems to plantation protection, breeding, post-harvest handling, and export organization.

Next Stage — Development of the AgroInnovation Exchange

The successful implementation of the mission created a foundation for continuing the professional dialogue between Ukraine and Spain.

At the same time, a separate area of cooperation with Ukrainian communities is being developed — identifying twin cities and partners for projects in greenhouse production, orchards, and berry cultivation in both open-field and protected environments.

Conclusion

AgroInnovation Exchange: Ukraine – Spain is a practical platform for moving from the exchange of experience to the development of concrete business and investment projects.

The mission to Murcia and Huelva introduced Ukrainian producers to modern models of agricultural business organization, cultivation technologies, cooperation, breeding, and export, while also presenting Spanish partners with the potential of Ukraine’s berry and horticulture sectors.

“The next step could be the development of long-term Ukrainian-Spanish partnerships in which technology companies, producers, communities, investors, and Spanish financial programs supporting Ukraine can work together on the modernization of Ukrainian agricultural production. This approach makes it possible to transform an international business mission from a one-time trip into a mechanism for creating new technological, export, and investment opportunities for Ukraine.” — Olena Kaijen

Organizers:

Ukrainian Municipal Economic Development Agency (UMEFA),

Mayors’ Club of Ukraine and ALLE FOOD UA TRADE ALLIANCE, with the participation of the Ukrainian Blueberry Growers Association

Partner: Economy of Trust Ukraine (EoTU)