On 11 June 2025, Sumy National Agrarian University hosted a scientific and practical conference ‘Livestock in the Food Safety System: the Role of Genetic Resources and Food Technologies’, which brought together the scientific community from different regions of Ukraine and international partners. The event was held in a mixed format: some participants joined the work directly at the Komyshanske farm, while others participated online.
The conference became a platform for discussing strategic directions for the development of domestic livestock under conditions of global challenges, where the key topics were the conservation of genetic resources, the introduction of innovative food technologies, improving biosafety of production and supporting young scientists.
The event was attended by leading Ukrainian scientists:
Representatives of the agricultural business, including heads of breeding farms, dairy producers, breeding, feeding and veterinary services, also actively participated in the discussions. Their participation demonstrated their practical interest in scientific developments and the need for a dialogue between research and production. It was emphasised that innovations in the industry can only be realised if science, education and agribusiness work closely together.
Participants emphasised the importance of inter-institutional cooperation, combining science and practice, and strengthening the role of state support in the reproduction, breeding and processing of livestock products.
The conference programme paid special attention to the exhibition of Lebedyn cows, a unique national genetic resource. Participants had the opportunity to see the best representatives of this breed, evaluate the exterior and productive qualities of the animals. The event once again highlighted the value of Ukrainian cattle breeds for food safety.
The conference was joined by representatives of the World Food Organisation and international partners from RBG Memmingen (Germany). Their speeches focused on the prospects for technology transfer, climate change adaptation and support for sustainable rural development.
The scientific community was represented by scientists from Sumy, Kharkiv, Poltava, Kyiv and Zhytomyr regions. A significant number of participants were postgraduate students of Sumy National Agrarian University, who presented research in the areas of genetics, feeding, herd The conference proved that Ukrainian agricultural science has a strong human and methodological potential, capable not only of responding to modern challenges but also of formulating strategic decisions. At the same time, it outlined the need for further integration of education, science, practice and international cooperation for the sustainable development of livestock production as a key component of the country’s food safety.
