Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers voted to support a law on
the general principles and requirements of organic production, handling and labelling.
Organic production is one of Ukraine’s priority agricultural
policy areas but it was recognised that the main constraint for
the development of the sector and access to world markets was a lack of regulatory
and legislative framework.
The global market for organic produce is now estimated at
$80 billion with the US and EU accounting for about 80% of the demand therefore
it makes perfect sense for any country or indeed farm business to consider the
marketing opportunity that organic production affords.
Ukraine is well placed to capitalise on that opportunity
both in terms of market location right next door to the EU and warm water ports
providing export opportunities to the US, and the suitability of land to
organic production.
Ukraine’s farm land has been virtually organic by
default in as much as inputs have been low over the last few decades leaving it
in a better position to start organic farming.
What has been missing is the assurance that what you are buying is
indeed organic; this new law won’t change that overnight but it is a
step in the right direction and illustrates an intent of Ukraine’s agricultural
policy.
Throw in a bit of sexy marketing and I can see a time in the not
too distant future when we will all be buying organic breakfast cereal made
from healthy Ukraine grains naturally sun ripened out on the open steppe.