Ukrainian Cheeses on the International Stage: Highlights from the Press Conference “World Cheese Awards 2024: Challenges and Results”
On December 3, 2024, the press conference “World Cheese Awards 2024: Challenges and Results” took place at the Pidgruntia art space in Kyiv. The event was organized by Ardis Group and ProCheese, official representatives of the competition in Ukraine. Attendees included representatives of governmental bodies, embassies, media, and producers who participated in this year’s international cheese competition.
For the third consecutive year, Ukrainian cheeses have been recognized by international cheese experts. In 2024, they earned eight awards. Details about the winners of the World Cheese Awards 2024 can be found here.
Unique Tasting of Award-Winning Ukrainian Cheeses
A key feature of the event was a unique tasting of Ukrainian cheeses that won awards this year. The tasting was led by Oksana Chernova, cheese expert, founder of the ProCheese Academy, and the official World Cheese Awards judge representing Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Results in the Competition
The participation of Ukrainian cheeses in the competition was supported by Switzerland within the Swiss-Ukrainian Quality FOOD Trade Program (QFTP) and facilitated by the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund. As QFTP Dairy Sector Component Coordinator Iryna Vysotska noted:
“The regular participation of Ukrainian cheesemakers in such large-scale competitions enhances the trade potential of Ukraine’s dairy sector by shaping the image of a country with its own cheese-making traditions and driving continuous improvement at the production level. This contributes to increased recognition of local brands and stimulates domestic sales in both decentralized regions and major retail networks.”
Vitaliy Bigdai, SME Development Director at the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund, emphasized the significance of such competitions:
“Events like the World Cheese Awards provide a platform for showcasing products to a wide audience, including potential buyers, distributors, and industry experts. Participation can significantly boost brand awareness and open new opportunities for businesses, making it an exciting and motivating experience for Ukrainian cheesemakers.”
Safety and Quality: The Foundation of Ukraine’s Reputation
One of the key topics of the conference was raising quality standards for Ukrainian products.
Olena Dadus, Deputy Director of the Agricultural Development Department at the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, stated:
“The awards earned by Ukrainian cheesemakers are crucial for Ukraine’s image as a reliable supplier of high-quality and unique dairy products. Our ministry will continue supporting small producers and strengthening their capacities in Ukraine, including through international partnerships.”
Ihor Lotskin, Director of the Food Safety and Veterinary Medicine Department at the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, added:
“Events like World Cheese Awards 2024 help present Ukraine as a reliable producer of cheeses on the global stage. ‘Made in Ukraine’ equals safety and quality. On our part, State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection is working to expand Ukraine’s export potential as a dairy producer, including cheeses.”
Viktor Shutkevych, Assistant Director for Cooperation at the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine, highlighted the importance of international support:
“In the agro-food sector, Switzerland prioritizes market access, production development, trade expansion, support for financial systems, and SME financing. In the dairy sector, this includes an improved regulatory framework, enhanced service provision, and a risk-based system for food safety and quality control.”
Switzerland also supports dairy SMEs in areas most affected by the war. Through a three-year humanitarian initiative, it has allocated 4.8 million Swiss francs for essential hygiene supplies to restore and sustain the production of high-quality and safe milk.
Ukrainian Cheeses on the Path to Global Recognition
Oksana Chernova, Cheese Expert and Competition Judge, emphasized the importance of Ukraine’s participation in international events:
“Participation in global competitions like the World Cheese Awards positively influences Ukraine’s international image. Since 2017, Ardis Group, the official representative of the competition in Ukraine, has worked tirelessly to make Ukrainian cheeses recognizable both domestically and abroad. We are building a cheese ecosystem aligned with our future European integration, and hosting the WCA in Ukraine could be one of these steps.”
Nataliya Kovach, owner of the Mamyn Syr cheesery, shared her personal achievement, winning silver for her cheese “Lopta”:
“I started my cheese production with milk from just one cow. Even when the competition results were announced, I couldn’t believe that I would win an award from an international jury and that my cheese would be placed alongside global cheese masterpieces. I am grateful to all the partners who made this victory possible.”
Ukrainian cheesemakers are confidently advancing on the international stage, establishing Ukraine’s reputation as a country with rich cheese-making traditions.
You can explore the “Cheeses of Ukraine 2024” guide, showcasing the diversity of Ukrainian cheesemaking, here.
