On 10–13 February, BIOFACH 2026, the leading international trade fair for organic products, took place in Nuremberg, Germany. The event brought together more than 35,000 importers, buyers and distributors from around 140 countries, as well as over 2,300 exhibitors.

This year, Ukraine once again confirmed its status as a reliable supplier of high-quality organic products and strengthened its presence in the international market.

Over 1,250 visitors to the exhibition: results of the National Pavilion of Ukraine

The National Pavilion of Ukraine brought together 26 exporters of organic products from the central, western, southern, northern and eastern 12 regions of Ukraine, demonstrating the broad geographical spread of the organic sector and the resilience of production despite the challenges of the full-scale war.

Exhibitors of the National Pavilion of Ukraine at BIOFACH 2026:

The companies presented a wide range of products, from organic raw materials to high value-added processed goods: frozen, freeze-dried and dried berries and fruits, nuts and seeds, honey, cereals, flakes, porridges, cream soups, breakfast products, sauces, pickled products, spreads, juices, purées and concentrates, fruit rolls, pastila, chips, vegetable and fruit ingredients, teas, chocolate bars, dragees, oils and more.

For some exhibitors, participation in BIOFACH was a continuation of cooperation with international partners; for others, it marked the beginning of new negotiations. For Food for Thoughts LLC Shans Vik LLC (Travka TM) and Wine Club Biologist LLC (TM Biologist TM), it was their first participation as exhibitors.

During the four days of the Pavilion’s work, Ukrainian exporters welcomed more than 1,250 visitors and held over 250 B2B meetings with potential partners from the EU, North America and Asia. Countries showing strong interest in Ukrainian organic products included Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, France, Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Spain, Lithuania, Latvia, Denmark, Sweden, Canada, the USA, Japan, South Korea, India, Morocco, Mexico, Chile and others.

As a result of the meetings, a number of potential partnerships were established with foreign traders, processors, distributors and retail representatives. Some contacts have already progressed to the stage of agreeing on specifications, pricing and supply volumes.

In particular, the continuation of cooperation with a Swiss buyer for the supply of 800 tonnes of sunflower cake has been confirmed. Agreements were reached for the supply of 300 tonnes of buckwheat to the United Kingdom and 150 tonnes of flaxseed to the Netherlands; a contract for 22 tonnes of hazelnuts to Mexico is being finaliіed. The possibility of supplying 20 tonnes of oil to South Korea was discussed, as well as requests for 100 tonnes of frozen berries for EU countries and up to 100 tonnes of nuts per year for Canada. A potential annual contract worth EUR 100,000 for honey supply is also under consideration, along with requests for chamomile for Latvia, Poland and Slovakia.

In addition, companies gained opportunities to expand their sales markets and enter South American and Asian markets.

The strong results were made possible by the comprehensive support from the organisers of the National Pavilion of Ukraine and thorough preparation by the companies themselves, who actively engaged their client base, sent meeting invitations, and presented their product portfolios and current offers to international partners.

Direct negotiations with importers, distributors and retailers provided Ukrainian producers with real prospects for entering new markets and expanding export contracts. More information about the companies exhibiting at the National Pavilion of Ukraine.

BIOFACH as a tool of economic diplomacy

During the session “Development of the Organic Sector in Central and Eastern Europe”, representatives of Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Hungary presented the state of their organic sectors, key challenges and development priorities.

The Ukrainian delegation was represented by Valentyna Liashenko, an expert of the State Institution “Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office”. She emphasiіed that despite the reduction in agricultural area in 2022, the organic sector is recovering, and as of the end of 2024, 261 operators certified in accordance with Ukrainian organic legislation are listed in the State Register.

“Today, exports ensure the sustainable development of Ukraine’s organic sector, with over 90% of produced organic goods supplied to foreign markets. In recent years, Ukraine has consistently ranked among the top5 suppliers of organic products to the EU, and in 2024 it was ranked third among 125 countries by volume of organic imports to the European Union. The share of Ukrainian organic agri-food products in total EU imports amounted to nearly 8%, while export volumes increased by 17.5% compared to 2023,” said Valentyna Liashenko, Lead Expert in Foreign Economic Activity of the Export Support Department at the State Institution “Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office”.  

She also presented the control system of Ukraine’s organic sector, noting that the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine maintains the State Register of operators and verifies the knowledge of inspectors of private certification bodies, while state supervision functions are performed by the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection.

On 11 February, within the framework of BIOFACH 2026 congress, the conference “Seeds of Peace. Voices from Ukraine Shaping their Future with Organic Agriculture” brought together representatives of Ukrainian business and government.

During the event, Valentyna Liashenko explained how the state supports companies in finding international buyers and maintaining their presence in foreign markets. Practical support tools include the Catalogue of Ukrainian Organic Exporters, organisation of National Pavilions of Ukraine at international trade fairs, business missions, B2B meetings with importers and retailers, as well as analytical and advisory support. These tools form a systemic export-support infrastructure.

Business representatives shared practical solutions: how they restructured logistics, adapted production, maintained quality and fulfilled international obligations even under wartime conditions. The focus was on day-to-day work with contracts and maintaining partners’ trust.

Practical experience was shared by representatives of organic businesses: Oleksii Kosobokov (Food For Thoughts, LLC), Vadym Vasyliev ( Dyvo Yahoda, LLC), and Andrii Vlasov (Danube Agrarian, LLC). Olena Deineko, Chairperson of the Board of the Public Union “Organic Initiative”, outlined the state of the organic market, the level of solidarity among producers and the sector’s transformation during the war. The session was moderated by Anastasiia Pivniuk, Senior Consultant of the Organic Component, Swiss-Ukrainian Programme “Higher Value Added Trade from the Organic and Dairy Sector in Ukraine” (QFTP).

A public discussion was held on 12 February with the participation of Ukrainian representatives and international partners. Speakers discussed support instruments for Ukrainian exporters, their adaptation to new challenges, and outlined further cooperation initiatives.

Ukraine is a part of the European organic market

Ukrainian organic products are an important component of Europe’s value chains, particularly in the organic livestock segment. For European partners, Ukraine is not a new player, but a reliable supplier.

In 2024, Ukraine’s organic exports reached 243 thousand tonnes, 23% higher than in the previous year. The total export value amounted to USD 141 million. The largest importers of Ukrainian organic products were the Netherlands (31%), Germany (25%), Austria (12%), Switzerland (6%) and Italy (6%).

Interest in the National Pavilion of Ukraine therefore had practical significance, as international importers are seeking reliable suppliers. Today, Ukrainian organic products are exported to 31 countries worldwide, with the European Union remaining the main market.

Overall, the EU organic market remains one of the most structured and demanding. Buyers focus on supply chain traceability, compliance with EU regulations, sustainable production practices and certification transparency. At the same time, demand is growing for organic ingredients for processing, high value-added products, functional and plant-based products, as well as products with clean labels and environmentally friendly packaging.

Ukrainian producers demonstrate readiness to operate under these requirements, adapting their range of products to market needs and strengthening the processing component within the export structure. While the global organic market is experiencing price turbulence, Ukraine demonstrates growth in export volumes and retains its position in key markets.