‘Zlatopil’ is an agricultural company that has been operating since 1996. The enterprise cultivates about 900 hectares of land located in the Globyno district of the Poltava region.  The company produces wheat, corn, sunflower, soy and winter rapeseed and frequently spearheaded modern farming methods. Recently the company introduced precision agriculture principles, reducing fertilizer requirements and accordingly increased its profitability while reducing negative environmental impact.

In support of its goals towards higher efficiency and profitability, the company also invested in two new seeders, a combine harvester and a tractor, reaping the benefits of a EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line loan.  The equipment was delivered in time for the harvest season.

Apart from improving the capacity and efficiency of the farming processes, the new equipment also provides better health and safety conditions for workers and is much more fuel efficient than the equipment that was replaced. Furthermore, the new equipment is more reliable, reducing maintenance cost and down periods and is simple to use. Equipment operators now also enjoy a quiet cockpit and a dust-free workplace that is cool in the summer and warm in the winter. 

The project was assessed under the simplified rules of the LET process. After the successful project verification, the company received 10% of the loan value as a grant incentive, funded under the EU4Business initiative of the European Union. The project verification was carried out under the special COVID-19 rules set by the EU, which ensure that investment projects can be verified despite COVID restrictions and that investors can receive their grant.  The timely verification and grant payment is important to all companies, but even more so to companies that contribute to safeguarding the food supply during these times.

With the investment, the company now meets a wide variety of European standards, including:

• • Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 February 2013 on the approval and market surveillance of agricultural and forestry vehicles