International Projects as a Tool for the Development of Agricultural Entrepreneurship: EU Experience and Opportunities for Ukraine

Abstract

The article examines international projects supporting agricultural entrepreneurship and identifies their importance for the development of rural areas in Ukraine in the context of European integration. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of European experience in implementing rural entrepreneurship development programmes that shape a modern model of support for the agricultural sector. The purpose of the study is to generalise the experience of international rural entrepreneurship development projects in EU countries and to assess the possibilities of adapting these approaches to the modernisation of Ukraine’s agricultural sector.

The methodological basis of the research includes methods of comparative analysis, systematisation, generalisation, as well as statistical and structural analysis of international programmes supporting agricultural business. The study is based on official materials of the European Commission, the World Bank, the EBRD, USAID, and FAO, together with academic works by Ukrainian and foreign researchers.

The findings indicate that international projects currently act both as a source of financial assistance for Ukraine’s agricultural sector and as a factor in the structural modernisation of rural entrepreneurship. It has been established that the largest volumes of funding are channelled through European Union mechanisms and World Bank programmes, although a considerable share of these resources is macro-financial and infrastructure-oriented in nature. In contrast, USAID AGRI-Ukraine and FAO programmes provide more targeted support to farms, cooperatives, and processing enterprises through grant, logistics, and innovation instruments. The study demonstrates that international assistance contributes to production modernisation, the expansion of export potential, and the integration of Ukraine’s agricultural sector into the European economic area.

The research also reveals a structural gap between the actual needs of the agricultural sector and the volume of targeted funding. It is substantiated that the long-term effectiveness of development depends not only on external support, but also on the state’s internal capacity to create an institutionally resilient and investment-attractive environment. The article concludes that the prospects of European integration create favourable conditions for the gradual inclusion of Ukraine into the mechanisms of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, innovation-driven programmes, and sustainable rural development instruments.