The international online conference "Оrganic export from Ukraine during the war" took place for the third time. During the event, Ukrainian government officials, business representatives, domestic and international experts discussed Ukraine’s organic sector, key indicators, government programs supporting organic enterprises' exports, and the experience of international cooperation with Ukrainian exporters.

“Our task is not only to be export-oriented, as today over 95% of organic products are exported to international markets, but also to ensure high consumption of organic products within the country, as this indicates a high standard of living for citizens,” — Vitalii Holovnia, Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine

Ukrainian organic products are aimed not only at the European market but are also represented in global markets and enjoy high demand. However, since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the organic sector has faced certain risks, including the mining of agricultural lands, destruction of production infrastructure, rising energy costs, unstable availability of technical and material resources, and increased production expenses.

Despite these challenges, Ukrainian farmers continue to work toward maintaining a sustainable food system, which reflects their resilience and commitment.
"Ukrainian entrepreneurs are exporting not only products but also hope. Every ton shipped is an indicator of the resilience of domestic farmers, their commitment to quality, and a shared belief," — Toralf Richter, Senior Advisor, QFTP, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL, Switzerland)

The situation in Ukraine's agriculture sector remains challenging, as conflicts and land losses complicate production. However, Ukraine remains determined to retain its role as a supplier of organic products on the global market.

Ukraine's export support system continues to evolve, especially through government initiatives aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) enter international markets.

During the online conference, Oleksii Grushetskyi, Deputy Director, Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office, outlined the tools available to support Ukrainian businesses through the Entrepreneurship and Export Development Office and the national Diia.Business project. These tools include educational programs for entrepreneurs, a marketplace for financial opportunities, internal and external market analytics, organization of national collective stands at international exhibitions, and the presentation of the updated Catalogue of Ukrainian organic exporters. 

Additionally, Sergiy Galashevskyy, General Manager, Organic Standard certification body, presented an overview of the organic market, commenting on key statistics, forecasts, and trends. These included the number of organic operators in Ukraine, product sales, geographical distribution, the top 10 organic products exported by Ukraine, and an overview of key market players across different countries. More information about Ukraine’s organic market can be found in the infographics via the provided link.

Representatives of Ukrainian organic companies, including Organic Milk LLC, Stodola LLC, Catanzaro Eurasia LLC (Alta Kraina), Galeks-Agro PE, Oril-Eco LLC, Ukr-Walnut LLC, Skvyrskyi Grain Processing Factory LLC, ALTE Foods LLC shared the key advantages, opportunities and current experiences of their companies, and how they are overcoming the challenges of the war.

These invited Ukrainian companies are actively expanding their markets and will be showcased at the international food industry exhibition SIAL 2024, taking place in Paris from October 19 to 23.

The participation of international importers in the conference enhanced the relevance of the event by facilitating direct dialogue between Ukrainian producers and foreign importers on important issues such as logistics, product certification, and liability for risks caused by the full-scale war in Ukraine.

This event is organized by the State Institution Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office, the national project  Diia.Business together with the Organic Standard certification body and Organic Initiative Public Union under the auspices of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, and supported by Switzerland within the framework of the Swiss-Ukrainian Program “Higher Value Added Trade from the Organic and Dairy Sector in Ukraine” (QFTP) implemented by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL, Switzerland) in partnership with SAFOSO AG.