(Frick, 11.02.2025) "The numbers from Ukraine are impressive: Despite the devastating impacts of Russia’s war of aggression, Ukraine recorded certified organic agricultural land in 2023 of almost half a million hectares" (471,176 ha) and an export volume of 198 thousand tons”, states "The World of Organic Agriculture 2025", the annual statistics book of the organic sector, that was presented today at Biofach in Nuremberg.
According to the authors of the yearbook, "these figures demonstrate the resilience and adaptability of Ukrainian farmers, who continue to embrace organic farming even under the most challenging circumstances. However, there is a decline in exports, reflecting the severe logistical disruptions caused by the war."
Nevertheless, Ukraine is still one of the Top 5 organic exporters to the EU, with Switzerland as the 4th largest importer of Ukrainian organic products. The total trade volume of Ukrainian organic exports in 2023 amounted to 141 million USD, while the value of the domestic market was 27 million USD.
FiBL mission shows serious challenges for producers and processors
A mission conducted in December 2024 by two FiBL experts confirmed the current challenges and opportunities faced by organic operators in Ukraine despite the ongoing war: tremendously increased costs, labour shortages, and logistical challenges. The mission by Toralf Richter and Nicolas Lefebvre was part of the ongoing Quality Food Trade Program (QFTP). This long-term program, financed by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO started in 2019 and is planned to run until 2026. An extension phase until 2028 is currently under discussion. Its main objective is to promote sustainable trade and more and better jobs by strengthening the business competitiveness and capacities of small and medium enterprises in the organic and dairy sectors in Ukraine, thereby contributing to sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Ukraine
In a FiBL Podcast published yesterday, Toralf Richter and Nicolas Lefebvre give a detailed account of their mission in December 2024 (see link below).
24 Ukrainian organic exporters at Biofach 2025
Despite the full-scale war that has been going on for nearly three years, the Ukrainian organic sector manages every year to grow and process innovative high-quality organic products in their fields and to market them successfully both in Ukraine and abroad. At Biofach, 24 Ukrainian organic exporters are offering their products at the large joint National Pavilion of Ukraine.
The congress at Biofach offers the additional opportunity to get an impression of the performance of Ukrainian organic companies and the current status of organic policy in Ukraine. Under the title "Ukraine's Organic Sector in the EU Integration Process – Challenges, Opportunities, and Post-War Resilience", several representatives of trade and politics from Ukraine, Switzerland and the EU will provide information on the current situation in Ukraine, trade and legislative framework.
These include Taras Vysotskyi, First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine; Jan Plagge, President of IFOAM Organics Europe; and Marianna Paolino, Team Leader International at the DG AGRI of the EU Commission.
A few key figures from the Ukrainian organic sector (2023)
- Organic agricultural land: 471,176 ha
- In conversion: 80,253 ha
- Organic share of total agricultural land 1.1 percent
- Number of agriproducers: 383
- Exports: 198,000 Metric tons
Source: The World of Organic Agriculture 2025 / QFTP
Further information
Contacts
- Toralf Richter, Ukraine expert, FiBL Switzerland
- Adrian Krebs, Media spokesperson, FiBL Switzerland
QFTP is funded by
- State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Switzerland
QFTP is implemented by
- FiBL Switzerland, in collaboration with SAFOSO AG, Switzerland
Podcast
FiBL produced a podcast about the mission of Toralf Richter and Nicolas Lefebvre in December 2024
National Pavilion of Ukraine at Biofach 2025
Hall 4A, stand 625: 24 Ukrainian exporters will exhibit their organic products.
- minagro.gov.ua: More information about the stand
- organicinfo.ua: More information about the stand
- organicinfo.ua: The Catalogue of Ukrainian organic exporters 2025
Ukraine Session at Biofach Congress
February 12, 2pm, Room Shanghai, NCC Ost: "Ukraine's Organic Sector in the EU Integration Process – Challenges, Opportunities, and Post-War Resilience" (English/Ukrainian). Find the programme here:
- organicinfo.ua: Ukraine: Organic is the Future!
Links
- qftp.org: QFTP program website
- fibl.org: QFTP in the FiBL project database
The World of Organic Agriculture
- organic-world.net: Download the statistical yearbook "The World of Organic Agriculture 2025", including data for Ukraine