Cultivating Resilience: Key Takeaways from the 9th Edition

Navigating Trade in a Time of Abundance. Market trends and S&D for 2025

​​​​​At the opening panel of Grain Academy 2025 in Varna, experts explored how abundance and volatility now go hand in hand in global grain markets. Isabelle Tranter (Aura Commodities) noted that “we’re in a well-supplied wheat market, but South America remains the swing factor,” warning that La Niña could quickly change the balance for corn and soybeans. Christina Serebriakova (ASAP Agri) compared today’s grain trade to “a colosseum,” where “abundance doesn’t bring comfort — it brings competition,” as Black Sea exporters increasingly compete with each other and with other origins for key MENA markets. Malak Al Akiely (Golden Wheat) added a geopolitical dimension, declaring that “MENA is no longer a price taker but a price maker,” and predicting that “MENA will decide futures, not Chicago,” as the region builds digital ports, strategic reserves, and investment-backed trading power. José Oliveiro (LIPSA) closed the session by showing how Europe’s demand for vegetable oils is increasingly driven by biofuels rather than food, noting that sustainability rules and limited arable land will keep prices firm despite strong harvests.
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Balkan countries - specifics of the region and opportunities

The second panel explored how the Balkans are adapting to shifting oilseed and grain fundamentals through diversification, sustainability, and regional cooperation. Zornitsa Yovcheva (Cargill) opened with an overview of oilseed markets, noting that “regional crushers face narrowing margins, but flexibility and logistics will define who wins the next season.” Felicia Ion (Comcereal Vrancea) showcased Romania’s rise as a sustainable exporter, stressing that “from seed to shelf, our goal is traceable, certified, and competitive agriculture,” with the Port of Constanța emerging as the Black Sea’s export backbone. İren Akyüz (Rotel) highlighted that “Türkiye remains the largest importer in the Black Sea,” outlining how tariff cuts and steady crush demand keep the country pivotal to sunflower and soy flows.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Anastasios Thanos (Loulis Food Ingredients) reflected on Greece’s dual role as importer and processor, emphasizing that “protein is not the holy grail — it’s about balance, elasticity, and consistency,” while presenting regenerative agriculture and quality-driven sourcing as the next frontier. Finally, Aleksandar Mačkić (Delta Agrar) spoke about adaptability amid climate stress, pointing out that “resilience now means diversification,” as Serbia expands sorghum, rapeseed, and canal-linked logistics to offset drought risks.

The great talk for the Bulgarian grain industry, Episode 3

The closing discussion at Grain Academy 2025 offered a candid look at the mounting pressures on Bulgarian farming, which echoes in the region. Ilia Prodanov spoke about high production costs, limited financing, and weak credit ratings as major risks for farmers. He noted that “37% of farms in Bulgaria have disappeared in just five years” and warned that bankruptcies are inevitable unless land rents are adjusted. Yet, Prodanov also struck a more hopeful note, recalling that since the first edition of The Great Talk in 2023—when farmers felt cornered and alone—the entire supply chain has started to come together to seek joint solutions. Stoyan Stoyanov echoed this sentiment, saying multinational companies are “well aware of farmers’ problems — if the farmers disappear, so will the rest of the sector,” as they work to restore export channels to China and Egypt amid margins “squeezed below 1%.”

​​​​​​​Marin Chankov pointed to the decline of corn and the search for alternative starch-processing crops, while Andrey Machuganov shared how his company diversified into alfalfa production and urged more farmer education on risk diversification. Prof. Nadya Kostova highlighted growing tax pressure on landowners, and Erhan Fikret warned that processors are already feeling the impact of reduced oilseed output, pushing them to seek new import routes. Closing the session, Chavdar Dochev pointed to upcoming heat- and drought-resistant crop varieties and AI-based farm planning tools as key innovations ahead. Despite the challenges, the panel ended on a note of cautious optimism — grounded in innovation, cooperation, and smarter risk management.

Alongside the main conference, Grain Academy 2025 featured a parallel educational program on October 29th, hosted by Euronext and ADM Investor Services (ADMIS). Participants had the opportunity to take part in specialized workshops focused on hedging strategies, futures markets, and modern approaches to price risk management, gaining practical tools to navigate market volatility more confidently. The sessions drew strong interest from traders, producers, and financial professionals seeking to enhance their understanding of risk mitigation in commodity markets.

Beyond the Harvest: Uniting Knowledge, People, and Progress

The 9th edition of the event reaffirmed its role as a space where insight meets action — a forum that unites professionals across the grain value chain to exchange expertise, inspire innovation, and strengthen partnerships. Over the discussions, one theme echoed throughout: the future of agriculture depends on people working together — sharing knowledge, embracing change, and building trust across borders.

In an environment shaped by constant market shifts and climate uncertainty, Grain Academy 2025 underscored that progress is not just about bigger yields or faster trade; it’s about collaboration, transparency, and the collective drive to adapt. The event once again demonstrated that the region’s greatest asset lies in its community — a network of committed individuals determined to secure a sustainable future for the grain industry.

"Let’s celebrate what we’ve built together — and look forward to what we’ll achieve next. Let’s keep growing ideas, cultivating trust, and building the future of this industry, together." - Petar Dimitrov, Founder of Grain Academy.

With sincere gratitude to all sponsors, exhibitors, partners, speakers, and attendees, we thank everyone who contributed to making this edition a remarkable success and to shaping, together, the next chapter of the grain industry.