AGCO Foundation and Helvetas Partner to Strengthen Agri-entrepreneurship in Ukraine

AGCO Foundation will donate $200,000 to Helvetas to support Ukraine’s Economic Resilience Program, which provides microgrants, skills training, and vocational support to agri-entrepreneurs. The initiative targets agricultural and food processing businesses in Kharkiv, Cherkasy, Odesa, and Vinnytsia regions, aiming to help entrepreneurs rebuild and adapt operations amid ongoing economic disruption. The program prioritizes vulnerable groups, including internally displaced people, war veterans, women, and persons with disabilities, ensuring inclusive economic recovery. AGCO Foundation’s Board Chair Roger Batkin emphasized the focus on enterprise development, workforce skills, and institutional capacity building as part of long-term agricultural and economic growth strategies.

Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation, a Swiss international organization, will implement the program with expertise in empowering small and medium-sized agricultural businesses under challenging conditions. The collaboration aligns with Helvetas’ broader mission of sustainable development, infrastructure recovery, and economic resilience in Ukraine. Thomas Mauget, Helvetas Humanitarian Response Coordinator, highlighted the program’s goal to create dynamic, resilient, and competitive local economies through enterprise development and market-relevant training. The initiative moves beyond short-term aid, fostering sustainable recovery led by local actors.

The Economic Resilience Program is funded by Switzerland and implemented by Helvetas as part of a consortium, with AGCO Foundation’s contribution supporting its core objectives. Ukraine’s agricultural sector, a critical pillar of the national economy and global food systems, has faced significant losses due to conflict and economic instability. The program aims to restore and adapt agricultural operations, helping businesses respond to evolving market conditions and contribute to local economic recovery.

AGCO Corporation, a global leader in agricultural machinery and precision agriculture technologies, established the AGCO Foundation in 2018 to transform lives in farming communities. The Foundation supports programs that empower farmers, promote sustainable agriculture, and develop the next generation of agricultural leaders. Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation operates in 35 countries, focusing on sustainable development, infrastructure recovery, and resilience, with a commitment to social equity and equal opportunities for all.