Strategic independence. Export potential. Deep corn processing.
Acicorn is an initiative to build Ukraine’s first independent citric acid production facility, based on deep corn processing and regional raw-material capacity. The project aims to reduce full import dependency and create an export-oriented biochemical platform capable of supplying EU, MENA, and Eastern European markets.
Location: Kremenets, Ternopil, Ukraine.
Goal: Import substitution and export orientation to EU, MENA, and Eastern European markets.
Today Ukraine imports 100% of its citric acid and citrate derivatives, creating supply risks and high logistics costs. Acicorn addresses this gap by developing a technologically flexible production base that can evolve from citrate salts toward full-cycle fermentation and broader biochemical manufacturing.
The combination of local agricultural inputs, competitive operating costs, and proximity to EU borders enables the project to scale into multiple value-added product lines. This positions Acicorn not only as a single-product facility, but as a multi-stage growth platform capable of expanding into starches, syrups, organic acids, and other corn-based industrial ingredients.
As a first step (before a full scale citric acid production) now we are launching the citrates using imported citric acid as a raw meterial. Due to its tecnological base and raw material potential, the plant can serve as a platform for the next:
Base for food and industrial applications
Sweetener and ingredient for beverages and confectionery
Widely used in food, pharma, and biodegradable plastics
Key chemical for food preservation and industry
Salts with broad use in food, pharma, and cosmetics
Acicorn is in the Strategic Investigation & Pre-Engineering Phase, developing a modern corn-based biotechnology facility for organic acids.
The project is evaluating global bioprocess technologies, engineering concepts and supply-chain configurations for a 30,000 t/year citric acid plant.
International technology partners from Asia, Türkiye and the EU are under active review, with technical visits planned for 2025–2026.
Raw-material and logistics potential in the West of Ukraine is being assessed, alongside constructive support from regional authorities.
Financial modelling (target CAPEX ~USD 20M) and core team formation are underway.
Goal of Rounds 1–2: fundraising, finance feasibility study, pre-engineering, legal structuring, and investor readiness for the infrastructure round.
Pavlo Polianychka
Founder of LLC “Acicorn Organic”
Phone: +380 50 827 50 70
Email: invest@acicorn.com