Austrian-based Rail Cargo Group (RCG), part of ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways), has launched GrainLane, a virtual marketplace aimed at connecting Ukrainian farmers with retailers, consumers, and logistics providers across Europe and Africa.
The CFTS portal reported this, citing the Rail Freight publication.
Headed by the RCG, the project is coordinated by ÖBB's Open Innovation Team in partnership with V_labs, an Austrian company specializing in innovative business models. The platform aims to create an open and transparent digital marketplace where Ukrainian grain producers can reach international buyers.
The innovative aspect of the platform is that it will serve as the basis for connecting producers and customers that had no business relations before the war. GrainLane should help unblock more than 20 million tons of grain currently stuck in Ukraine due to the sea blockade.
More than 64,000 tons of agricultural products are currently listed on the platform, which has more than 600 users. Interested parties can agree on the details individually with sellers. However, GrainLane offers transport services through its partner network.
The RCG has been supporting Ukrainian agricultural producers in recent months. By the end of July, the company plans to double its grain transportation capacity by increasing the number of deliveries to Austria, as well as to Hungary and Romania.
