With a restaurant flavor: snail in Ukraine

Snails have ceased to be a delicacy, at the same time, their breeding turned out to be a profitable business that can be opened without much effort.

Nobody was engaged in the cultivation of mollusks in Ukraine a couple of years ago, however, in the wake of the boom in demand among the population and thanks to the simple technology of care, snail breeding became a profitable niche.

In addition, Ukrainian snails are in demand abroad. According to the State Statistics Service, domestic producers exported 5 times more mollusks this year than in 2018 - 166.5 thousand tons worth $ 253 thousand. Most of these products were delivered to Poland - 44%, Czech Republic - 32% and Lithuania - 23 % Demand is growing in other EU countries, for example, in Italy, France and Spain. Domestic production does not satisfy needs. At the same time, prices for snails have remained stable over the past years - 3.50 euros / kg.

Simple and affordable

Snails can be grown both indoors and outdoors. The second method is less expensive, but requires additional care for gastropods - they need to be protected from pests and negative weather factors. For outdoor cultivation, minimum conditions are necessary - good soil, moisture and shade. The taste of a snail depends on its diet. As a rule, these are vegetables, berries and herbs - for example, arugula, broccoli, carrots, raspberries, etc.

The greenhouse method requires more investment. For a small farm of 750 adults 4 square meters are needed. m of indoor space for the herd, 18 square meters. m - for the incubation of eggs and young animals, 8 plastic boxes 1 x 0.5 m for adult mollusks, 150 plastic ditches for keeping young animals of small sizes, several metal shelving units, 400 sq. m. m fenced aviary for growing the main herd.

Most often, Ukrainian farmers breed grape snails, which are also called Burgundy snails, as well as gray mollusks Helix Aspersa Maxima and small gray Helix Aspersa Muller. Caviar is also grown for sale. The broodstock is formed from 500 individuals, in this case, profitability can be reached in 1-2 years. To grow a snail, it will take 2-3 years with a life expectancy of up to 9 years. The most active phase of work on the farm occurs in late February, when the mollusks begin to actively lay their eggs, and lasts until mid-June. All this time, growing gastropods need to be sorted by size, since it can differ in different individuals during one phase of development.

At the level of France

The founder of one of the very first farms in the Vinnitsa region "Eco-Snail" Dmitry Butenko says that Ukrainian mollusks are identical to French ones. Eco-Snail has been breeding snail grapes for 8 years. On its lands, the farm also grows vegetables for feeding mollusks.

“The main advantage is favorable weather conditions. Our climate is similar to the French one, so the snails are comfortable here, ”says the farmer. At the start of the business, he bought young animals in Latvia, and today he is engaged in cultivation and processing, finished products from the farm cost up to 950 UAH per serving.

The Mediterranean species of gastropods is grown on a farm in the Ternopol region for 3 thousand square meters. m. Business owner Miroslav Zagorsky first saw such farms in Poland, after which he decided to try to breed snails in Ukraine. “First we bought young growth abroad, which was grown in a greenhouse. After they gave birth, they were relocated to the open ground, ”says Zagorsky. Farmers attract rural residents to work.

Almost all finished products are exported to Europe. Miroslav Zagorsky notes that this business is interesting, but so far we have no such demand for it as abroad. “The snail is the only animal that can be transported to the EU without problems, they do not need special quarantine certificates,” he says. At the same time, the agrarian is confident that over time, demand in the domestic market will grow.

Ukrainian Snail Holding in the Poltava region has been engaged in the breeding of mollusks on an industrial scale since 2015. The company grows snails of the species Maxima and Muller, which are 3-4 times more expensive and have better characteristics than grapevines. The farm uses three methods of breeding: horizontal, conical and vertical, which allows to enter the production of 50 tons of products per year. The farm is served by only 10 people who care for a livestock of more than 9 million mollusks. The company also helps novice farmers - provides advice on how to open a business and make it successful.