Kernel has developed a new modular grain storage system that can be installed in just four days, offering a rapid-response solution for agricultural companies facing storage shortages caused by export disruptions and infrastructure attacks.
The Ukrainian grain handler partnered with a domestic manufacturer to create the technology, which it tested and refined before making it available to the broader market. The first unit was installed in four days and loaded with 3,400 tonnes of grain in two additional days.
“We operate the largest grain elevator network in Ukraine and want to support the wider market,” said Sergiy Shcherban, head of Kernel’s grain storage department. “Our scale allows us to effectively act as an R&D platform for the industry.”
The modular facilities hold 3.5 times more grain than traditional grain bags on the same footprint. Where grain bags can store a maximum of around 1,000 tonnes, a modular unit accommodates 3,400 tonnes.
The structures offer several practical benefits: they require less space, can be installed on hard-surfaced sites, perform better in varied weather conditions and can be easily assembled, dismantled and relocated for reuse.
Kernel has purchased multiple units that will add 40,000 tonnes of total storage capacity. The company plans to use the additional space not only for its own crops but also to store grain for other agricultural producers.
The solution has already drawn strong interest from other market participants. Agricultural companies are ordering the technology, which Kernel refined by taking on the risks of testing prototypes at scale.
The need for flexible storage has grown as grain remains in the country longer due to unstable export conditions. The modular approach lets agricultural producers and elevator operators increase capacity quickly without constructing new permanent facilities.
