In a major boost to Ukraine’s post-war economic recovery, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has invested $40 million in Astarta, a leading Ukrainian agribusiness, to establish the country’s first soy protein concentrate plant. This facility marks a key shift from raw commodity exports to value-added production, aiming to fortify Ukraine’s presence in global food value chains.
The project is part of an $80 million financing package backed by the Dutch government and European Commission under IFC’s Economic Resilience Action (ERA) Program. With soybeans being one of Ukraine’s most exported crops, this investment targets reduced dependency on raw exports, fostering local processing and generating an estimated $680 million in foreign exchange annually.
Expected to create around 3,000 jobs, the plant will produce soy protein concentrate a high-protein, eco-friendly alternative to fishmeal used widely in European aquaculture. The initiative also supports rural development and sustainable agriculture, integrating biogas production from soybean byproducts.
Beyond funding, IFC will assist Astarta with market research and workforce development, especially for youth and war veterans. The project stands as a strategic milestone in Ukraine’s transition from crisis to industrial revitalization through global partnerships.