The third “Organic Day in Ukraine” conference was held on 23 September 2024, bringing together organic sector stakeholders, representatives of the government institutions, international partners, media, and other participants to discuss current challenges and opportunities for developing the organic market in times of war. The conference also focused on raising awarenessof organic products and labelling.
The conference agenda covered a wide range of topics, from the prospects of the domestic organic market in the process of EU integration to the current support programs for Ukrainian organic operators in 2024-2025. Participants had the opportunity to exchange experiences and discuss further steps to strengthen the position of Ukrainian organic producers in both domestic and global markets.
The importance of organic production for the sustainable development of Ukraine’s agricultural sector and its contribution to the country’s export potential was highlighted. The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine: Vitalii Koval, the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, and Taras Vysotskyi, the First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, who gave a welcome adress and personally answered questions from the conference participants. Maryna Kyslytska, Head of the State Policy Division on Organic Production, gave a presentation on the prospects of the domestic organic market in the context of EU integration and the importance of national labelling of organic products.
For more information about the participation representatives of the Ministry, follow the link.
The conference participants were also welcomed by Elena Panichi, Head of the Organic Unit, Directorate Quality, Research & Innovation, Outreach, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission, and Christian Hell, Agriculture Sector Manager, Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine.
Viktor Shutkevych, Assistant Director of Cooperation, Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine, in his welcoming speech highlighted Switzerland’s long-term support for Ukraine’s organic sector and expressed readiness to continue fostering its development. He emphasized the strategic importance of this cooperation for both countries. Thus, a new four-year Swiss Cooperation Program with Ukraine will be launched in 2025, which will include expanded support for Ukraine’s organic sector under the Swiss-Ukrainian Program “Higher Value Added Trade from the Organic and Dairy Sector in Ukraine” (QFTP). He also announced Swiss grant support for organic producers, focusing on higher value added products and support for women in the organic sector to develop the domestic market, raise awareness, and increase organic products consumption in Ukraine.
Among the distinguished guests and speakers at the conference were Andrii Remizov, Director, State Institution “Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office” (EEPO, Ukraine), Olha Semenchuk, Deputy Director of the Food Safety, Veterinary Medicine and Control Department in the Field of Organic Production — Head of the Food Safety, Feed and Control Division in the Field of Organic Production, State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, and Oleksandr Kaliberda, National Expert, German-Ukrainian Cooperation in Organic Agriculture (COA).
The international experience and successful examples of implementing national organic labelling in European countries, particularly Germany, Switzerland, and France, were shared by Stefan Dreesmann, Team Leader, German-Ukrainian Cooperation in Organic Agriculture project (COA), Tobias Eisenring, Program Director, Swiss-Ukrainian Program Higher Value Added Trade from the Organic and Dairy Sector in Ukraine” (QFTP), Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL, Switzerland), and Laure Verdeau, Directrice, Agence BIO, Agency for the Development and Promotion of Organic Agriculture, France.
The results of a market study on organic products in Ukraine (domestic market and export, 2023-2024) and the TOP-10 organic brands of 2024 were presented at the conference by Sergiy Galashevskyy, General Manager, Organic Standard LLC, and Olena Manziuk, Deputy Head of the Certification, Standardisation and Quality Department, Organic Standard LLC.
As part of the event, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine presented awards to the organic sector stakeholders and partners for their significant contribution to the development of the organic market. The awards were presented by Andrii Pyvovarov, Director, Department of State Policy in the Field of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine.
The Organic Day in Ukraine Conference, attended by over 200 participants both in Kyiv and online, demonstrated the high level of interest in Ukraine’s organic sector and served as a platform for exchanging ideas and experiences that will contribute to the further development of the industry.
The conference was organised by the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine and Organic Initiative Public Association in partnership with Ekoterra Lviv city non-governmental organisation, Information Center “Green Dossier”, Organic Ukraine NGO, Organic Federation of Ukraine and Biodynamic Association of Ukraine with support of:
- Switzerland within the framework of 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 (Switzerland) and
- Germany in the frame of the German-Ukrainian Cooperation in Ukraine project (COA), which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
Information partner: OrganicInfo.ua
More information:
- Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine website
- Program of the event is at the link.
- Details and the results of the Organic Market Study 2023 (domestic market and export) can be found in infographics at the link.
- TOP-10 most recognisable organic brands in Ukraine 2024.
