The Association of Cheese Producers of Ukraine Became a Member of the European FACE Network
With the support of Switzerland, the Association of Cheese Producers of Ukraine has become a member of the European network FACE (Farmhouse and Artisan Cheese & Dairy Producers European Network), which unites national associations of artisan cheesemakers.
This was announced by Tetyana Dyadechko, Head of the Association of Cheese Producers of Ukraine, during the “Syrne kolo” conference.
The event brought together artisan cheesemakers, fromagers, dairy experts, and distributors to share experiences, foster cooperation, and promote cheesemaking in Ukraine.
“For our association, membership in the European FACE network is an extremely valuable and inspiring step. We are grateful for the support of the Swiss-Ukrainian Programme “Higher Value Added Trade from the Organic and Dairy Sector in Ukraine” (QFTP), and look forward to further fruitful cooperation for the development of Ukrainian cheese production,” said Tetyana Dyadechko.
FACE supports the development of traditional cheesemaking, contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage, and provides a platform for experience exchange and collaboration among cheesemakers from different countries.
“We welcome this important step, which will foster further integration of Ukrainian producers into the European community and open new opportunities for knowledge sharing, partnership building, participation in international events, and promotion of Ukrainian cheeses on the European market,” emphasized Iryna Vysotska, Dairy Sector Component Coordinator of the Swiss-Ukrainian Programme “Higher Value Added Trade from the Organic and Dairy Sector in Ukraine”.
In her speech at the conference, she outlined the key areas of QFTP’s support for the dairy sector and emphasized the importance of adhering to proper hygiene practices in the production of artisan cheeses and dairy products in accordance with national requirements aligned with EU standards. Iryna Vysotska also presented an analysis of the trade potential of the Ukrainian dairy sector in both domestic and international markets.
Manon Schuppers, international expert of the “Dairy Sector” component of QFTP and Co-CEO of SAFOSO AG, focused on ensuring animal health and preventing the introduction of infectious disease agents, particularly foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Her presentation is available via the provided link.
“Foot-and-mouth disease is an extremely dangerous threat to the dairy sector. It affects all cloven-hoofed animals and is excreted in milk. It is crucial for milk producers and processors in Ukraine to take measures to reduce the risk of the introduction and spread of FMD, especially given the recent outbreaks in the EU. Everyone involved in the dairy sector plays a critical role in reducing the risk of the introduction and spread of FMD and awareness of the virus remains extremely important,” emphasized Manon Schuppers.
The “Syrne Kolo” conference also hosted the first official meeting of the members of the Association of Cheese Producers of Ukraine, during which long-term plans and an action program for the year were established.
“We believe that the insights and ideas voiced at the “Syrne Kolo” conference will serve as a strong foundation for the continued development of Ukrainian cheesemaking, helping to improve product quality and promote it both in domestic and international markets,” added Tetyana Dyadechko.
