WRR Ukraine

FEBRUARY 16-18

«Root VS Iron»

An educational and scientific conference dedicated to soil health, biological processes, and sustainable regenerative farming systems, with a focus on effective fertility management without depleting soil potential.

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Dates

February 16-18

10+

leading speakers

Format

OFFLINE+ONLINE

Language

English+Ukrainian​

ABOUT

This three-day educational and practical conference focuses on one of agriculture’s key resources – soil and its potential.

The event emphasizes the preservation and enhancement of soil fertility by achieving a balance among physical, chemical, and biological indicators, along with their continuous improvement. Special attention is given to the role of biology and soil biota in building sustainable agricultural systems.

FORMAT

The conference will be held in a hybrid format, combining in-person interaction with online access to all content.

 

February 16-17 – live sessions in Kyiv

February 18 – online day, allowing participation from any location

 

The event will bring together farmers, scientists, agronomic consultants, technology developers, and all stakeholders seeking reliable, practical, and long-term solutions for maintaining soil fertility under climatic, economic, and wartime challenges.

FOCUS AREAS

  • What does soil health really mean?
  • How to distinguish marketing promises from science-based approaches?
  • Is high productivity possible without soil degradation?
  • How can we revive soil life and make it profitable?
  • How to optimize the use of inputs?
  • How to increase yields and improve product quality without increasing costs?
  • What does the plant actually consume, and what remains for bacteria and soil biota?
  • Are mineral fertilizers as essential as commonly believed?
  • Does the farmer manage the plant, while the plant manages the biota?
  • Is it possible to achieve balance within cation exchange capacity?
  • Which processes limit nutrient availability, and can they be managed?

EVENT GOALS

  • Provide clear, science-based answers to questions about modern approaches to regenerating soils and enhancing soil potential in Ukraine.
  • Showcase successful soil management strategies, from traditional intensification to regenerative approaches without additional inputs (except for nitrogen).
  • Outline potential pathways for adapting agricultural systems to climate change.
  • Create a collaboration platform connecting agricultural businesses, scientists, and technology companies from around the world.

CORE TOPICS

    • Myths and realities of the concept of “healthy soil”.
    • Soil carbon: markets, opportunities, and practical aspects.
    • Biological soil indicators: what truly matters.
    • Dynamics of organic matter: what we lose along with fertility.
    • Tillage systems: tools as instruments, not ideology.
    • Myths and realities of the concept of “healthy soil”.
    • Soil carbon: markets, opportunities, and practical aspects.
    • Biological soil indicators: what truly matters.
    • Dynamics of organic matter: what we lose along with fertility.
    • Tillage systems: tools as instruments, not ideology.
    • Mulching, cover crops, and composts – what actually works in practice.
    • Biological products and microbiology: where they are effective and where investment is not justified.
    • Successful case studies of farms that restored soil health while maintaining profitability.
    • Practices for “bringing life back to the field” under wartime conditions.

SOCIAL MISSION

ROOT VS IRON 2.0 is organized by Travelite AGRO in partnership with World to Rebuild Rural Ukraine (WRRU).

As part of the social mission of the event, all educational content from the conference is shared with six Ukrainian agrarian universities.

 Students and young agricultural professionals receive access to expert lectures, practical case studies, and conference materials, supporting the spread of science-based knowledge and real-world experience among the next generation of agronomists.

Speakers

Preliminary Speakers List

Leading international experts and experienced farmers will share their knowledge of sustainable and regenerative farming practices.

world.

International experts will travel to Ukraine to share their experience and answer your questions.

Live exchange of knowledge and practical case studies from Ukrainian speakers.

Online presentations from international speakers, providing access to their insights from anywhere in the

Melissa Werkema

Founder of Future Analytics, expert in innovative agri-diagnostics, soil and plant sap analysis, Canada

  • Founder and owner of Future Analytics Inc., an independent laboratory specializing in soil, plant sap, and water analysis (Red Deer, Alberta, Canada).
  • Studied Chemical Sciences at the British Columbia Institute of Technology; started her career as an analytical technician in food laboratories.
  • Worked in Israel on plant nutrition systems and nutrient interactions, forming the foundation for reference datasets for plant analysis interpretation.
  • Developed an approach to soil and plant tissue testing that accounts for both inorganic and organic nutrients available for plant uptake, enabling a holistic assessment of soil health.
  • Helps farmers optimize crop nutrition programs using targeted laboratory analytics, reducing fertilizer costs and improving the resilience of vegetable and grain crops.
  • Core Expertise: Innovative soil and plant sap analysis methods; development of diagnostic solutions for nutrient balance; focus on organic nutrients and soil health; data-driven agronomic decision-making.

Loran Steinlage

Farmer, Regenerative Agriculture Innovator, FLOLO Farms, Iowa, USA

  • Owner and operator of FLOLO Farms in Fayette County, Iowa, where he develops and tests regenerative cropping systems that improve soil health, water quality, and farm profitability.
  • Pioneer in relay cropping and cover crops, interseeding cereal rye while cash crops are still growing, and adapting equipment and techniques to make conservation practices practical for modern farming.
  • Recognized for leadership in sustainable agriculture as a 2023 Iowa Leopold Conservation Award recipient and Conservation Ag Operator Fellow by No‑Till Farmer magazine.
  • Shares knowledge widely through field days, podcasts, and speaking engagements, promoting innovative, data-driven conservation practices to farmers in Iowa and beyond.
  • Focuses on improving environmental outcomes while maintaining economic viability, bridging practical farming and scientific research.

Rick Clark

Fifth-generation farmer and regenerative agriculture leader, Farm Green, Indiana, USA

  • Rick Clark is a fifth-generation farmer from Warren County, Indiana, whose family has farmed the land since the 1880s. He leads Farm Green, a 7,000-acre operation built on regenerative agriculture principles.
  • Over more than 10 years, Clark transitioned his farm from chemical-dependent conventional systems to regenerative farming focused on soil health, biodiversity, and long-term economic resilience.
  • His production system is based on a diverse five-crop rotation including corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, and regenerative cover crops, supported by no-till practices and non-GMO seed systems.
  • Rick has received national recognition for sustainability leadership, including Danone Sustainable Farmer of the Year (2017), Land O’Lakes Outstanding Sustainability Award, American Soybean Association Conservation Legacy Award (regional winner), and Field to Market Sustainable Farmer of the Year (2019).

Dr. Rob Myers

Director of the MU Center for Regenerative Agriculture, Extension Professor, USA

  • Dr. Rob Myers leads the Center for Regenerative Agriculture at the University of Missouri and serves as an Extension Professor in Plant Science and Technology, overseeing research, education, and outreach advancing regenerative agriculture, soil health, and diversified cropping systems.
  • He is Regional Director for the USDA NCR‑SARE program, administering grants and supporting sustainable agriculture initiatives across 12 states.
  • Dr. Myers grew up on a family grain farm in Illinois, which he still helps manage, and holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Agronomy from the University of Minnesota.
  • Under his leadership, the Center runs major climate‑smart and soil health projects, including the $25 million Climate‑Resilient Crop and Livestock Project and a $10 million National Cover Crop Variety Development Project.
  • His expertise covers regenerative agriculture, soil health, cover crops, conservation tillage, grazing systems, and crop diversification.

Michael Thompson

Farmer & Rancher, Thompson Farm & Ranch LLC, USA

  • Michael Thompson is a sixth-generation farmer and rancher from Almena, Kansas, operating Thompson Farm & Ranch LLC together with his father Richard and brother Brian across Norton County, Kansas, and Furnas County, Nebraska.
  • The operation combines grain production – including wheat, corn, oats, barley, and diverse cover crop mixes – with a cow-calf ranching system integrated into cropland and native rangeland.
  • Michael is deeply committed to soil health, implementing regenerative agriculture systems based on cover crops, zero tillage (no-till), and high-stock-density rotational grazing.
  • His farm and ranch have demonstrated strong resilience during multiple years of below-average precipitation, maintaining stable grain yields and sufficient forage for livestock under drought conditions.
  • The transition to regenerative land management has significantly improved soil function, water infiltration, and overall system resilience.
  • In recognition of his conservation leadership, Michael Thompson received the Kansas Leopold Conservation Award (2022).

Dr. James F. White

Professor of Plant Biology, Microbiome & Endophyte Researcher, Rutgers University, USA

  • Dr. James F. White is a Professor of Plant Biology at Rutgers University (New Jersey, USA) and a globally recognized authority on plant–microbe interactions, with a particular focus on endophytic microorganisms and the plant microbiome.
  • His research explores how beneficial microbes live inside plants, influence nutrient uptake, stress tolerance, disease resistance, and overall plant health—forming a scientific foundation for biological inputs and regenerative agriculture systems.
  • Dr. White earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Botany and Plant Pathology from Auburn University, followed by a Ph.D. in Botany/Mycology from the University of Texas at Austin.
  • He is widely known for advancing the concept of rhizophagy, a nutrient acquisition process in which plants actively interact with microbes to obtain essential elements, reshaping modern understanding of plant nutrition.
  • Dr. White has authored or co-authored 300+ peer-reviewed scientific publications, book chapters, and edited volumes on endophytes, fungal biology, plant microbiomes, and sustainable crop systems.
  • His work directly informs the development of biostimulants, microbial seed treatments, and biologically driven fertility strategies, bridging fundamental science with on-farm applications.
  • He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and serves on editorial boards of leading journals in microbiology, mycology, and plant science.

Christoph Felgentreu

Expert in cover crops, soil fertility, and sustainable plant production, Germany

  • Christoph Felgentreu is a German agricultural engineer and renowned expert in sustainable plant production, soil fertility, and cover crops (intercropping species).
  • He studied Plant Production at Humboldt University Berlin and completed additional training in forage production engineering.
  • Felgentreu grew up on a farm in Treuenbrietzen, where hands-on work with soil and crops shaped his lifelong passion for agricultural systems.
  • He worked early in his career as a department head in agricultural production and later became product manager for Terra Life at Deutsche Saatveredelung (DSV) AG, developing innovative cover crop mixtures to improve soil health.
  • His work focuses on enhancing soil biodiversity, humus development, and nutrient cycling using diverse intercrop plant communities that strengthen soil ecosystems and support subsequent cash crops.
  • Felgentreu has decades of practical experience in plant nutrition, soil biology, and plant production systems and regularly gives talks and seminars on intelligent crop communities and soil fertility.

 

Dr. Michael McNeill

President of Ag Advisory Ltd., Agronomic Consultant in Soil Fertility, Plant Physiology, and Quantitative Genetics, USA

  • Dr. Michael McNeill develops farming systems that improve soil and environmental health while increasing nutrient availability and yields for sustainable, scalable agriculture.
  • Education: PhD in Agronomy, Iowa State University
  • Owner and founder of Ag Advisory LTD (1983) – consulting company supporting producers in developing sustainable, climate-smart farming systems.
  • His work has led to farm plans for producers in six Midwestern states, as well as Florida and Hawaii, covering nearly 150,000 acres (about 60,702 hectares).
  • Develops farming systems that provide better environmental protection and increased profitability, leading to climate-smart production.
  • Assists in the development of new crops, including value-added processing and marketing structures for specialty crops.

Dr. Ray Ward

Founder of Ward Laboratories, expert in soil health and agronomic diagnostics, USA

  • Dr. Ray Ward develops modern systems for assessing soil health and provides actionable data to improve sustainable agricultural practices.
  • Education: B.S. and M.S. in Soil Science, University of Nebraska – Lincoln (1959, 1961); Ph.D. in Plant Science, South Dakota State University (1972).
  • Served as Assistant Professor and Manager of the James Valley Research and Extension Center, South Dakota State University (1972–1974), Associate Professor at Oklahoma State University (1974–1977), and Lab Division Manager at Servi-Tech, Inc., Dodge City, KS (1977–1983).
  • Founded Ward Laboratories with his wife in 1983 (Nebraska, USA); currently serves as Chair while Dr. Nick Ward is President.
  • Member of numerous scientific and honorary societies and organizations.
  • Focuses on helping production agriculture use resources efficiently, providing accurate laboratory data for managing operations, supporting value-added agriculture, and maintaining environmental quality.
  • Pioneered laboratory approaches that combine soil and plant analysis to optimize fertility and crop productivity.

 

Dr. Brian Arnall

Professor of Plant & Soil Sciences and Precision Nutrient Management Extension Specialist at Oklahoma State University, USA

  • Dr. Brian Arnall develops and implements precision nutrient management and precision agriculture technologies to improve soil fertility, nutrient use efficiency, and sustainable production systems.
  • Education: PhD in Soil Science, Oklahoma State University (2008)
  • Arnall has a three‑way appointment in Extension, Teaching, and Research, focusing on site‑specific nutrient management, sensor‑based technologies, and timing of nutrient applications to enhance profitability and environmental outcomes for producers.
  • He teaches courses in soil nutrient management and precision agriculture, mentors graduate students, and serves on professional committees while producing tools and resources for farmers and educators.
  • His work has led to grants supporting OSU programs, publications in peer‑reviewed journals, and widely adopted approaches to nitrogen management and crop nutrient recommendations.

York Th. Bayer

Owner and chief manager of Bayer Handelsvertretung company. Berlin, Germany

  • York Bayer conducts trainings on soil fertility based on the Kinsey/Albrecht system.
  • According to the results of soil testing in the laboratory of Neal Kinsey (USA), he provides interpretation, implementation and adaptation to the specific client’s needs and
  • Develops individual strategies for the clients, identifying new business opportunities and finding the best resources.
  • Consults on CULTAN N fertilization – science and
  • Provides no-till support and practical assistance in implementing this
  • Region of activity: German-speaking countries, Eastern Europe from the Baltics to Romania, France, and Great Britain.

REGISTRATION

Sign up to the conference to get more info

  1. Make any donation to the charity fundraising project World to Rebuild Rural Ukraine.
  2. Sign up.
  3. Get information about connecting to the conference.



Roman Hrynyshyn

+1 573 589 00 50
+38 097 996 50 47;
roman@traveliteagro.com