Ukraine presented the export potential of the organic sector at the world's largest trade fair of the organic products BIOFACH 2022

During the last week 32 Ukrainian organic producers revealed the export potential of Ukraine and presented their organic products at the world's largest trade fair of organic food products "BIOFACH 2022", which took place in Nuremberg (Germany) from July 26 to 29, 2022.

This year BIOFACH 2022, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, was held in an offline format and in an unconventional period – during summer, and gathered more than 24,000 visitors from 137 countries of the world.

Despite the full-scale war, Ukraine was represented by 2 stands with a total area of 200 m2:

• The National Ukrainian Pavilion “Organic Ukraine Business Hub”, which was organised by the Organic Ukraine NGO in partnership with the State Institution “Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office” (Ukraine), national project Diia.Business in partnership with the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, supported by UNDP Ukraine, and Switzerland within the framework of the Swiss-Ukrainian Programs “Higher Value Added Trade from the Organic and Dairy Sector in Ukraine” (QFTP) and “Organic Trade 4 Development in Eastern Europe” (OT4D).
• The collective stand of Ukraine, organised by the Ukrainian Berries Association, the Organic Federation of Ukraine and Biodynamics Association of Ukraine.

21 Ukrainian organic companies became the participants of the National Ukrainian Pavilion “Organic Ukraine Business Hub”. The range of presented products consisted of more than 250 organic products, including: frozen, freeze-dried and fresh berries, vegetables and fruits, grain, agricultural and melon crops, chicken eggs, sunflower oil, honey, amaranth, spelled, teas, etc.

Official opening of the National Ukrainian Pavilion "Organic Ukraine Business Hub"

During the exhibition, a congress was traditionally held, the program of which included more than 120 thematic sessions, in particular, devoted to the current organic market development and trends, political and legislative changes.

Also, a lot of attention was paid to the issues of Ukraine, in particular the state, problems and support programs of the organic sector of Ukraine. Andrii Remizov, Acting Director of the State Institution “Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office” (Ukraine) disclosed the acute issues of the organic sector to the international community and demonstrated Ukraine's organic export potential.

Andrii Remizov took part in three thematic events:

• “CEE session: Organic targets in the shadow of war – How does the military conflict affect agricultural policies of the CEE region?”,
• panel discussion “Organic farming in Ukraine 5 months after the beginning of the war - status quo and outlook”,
• session “Accelerating the development Organic Sector in Eastern Europe”.

Andrii Remizov, Acting Director of the State Institution “Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office” (Ukraine) highlights the problems of the organic sector under the influence of war at the session “CEE session: Organic targets in the shadow of war – How does the military conflict affect agricultural policies of the CEE region?”

Representatives of foreign diplomacy also visited both Ukrainian stands and expressed their support and gratitude to the participating companies for continuing their work in war conditions. Ukrainian stands were visited by such high-ranking officials as Mr. Janusz Wojciechowski, European Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Cem Özdemir, the Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture of Germany and others.

It should be noted that the European leaders visited a total of 7 exhibition pavilions, 2 of which were Ukrainian.

Andrii Remizov, Acting Director of the State Institution “Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office” (Ukraine) during the official visit of the European delegation to the National Ukrainian Pavilion "Organic Ukraine Business Hub"

According to the results of 4 days of work, the exhibitors of the National Ukrainian Pavilion signed the first export contracts and held more than 1,300 business meetings with the potential foreign partners from the USA, Canada, Switzerland, the countries of the Middle East and the EU.

Ukrainian organic exporters during their work at the National Ukrainian Pavilion

In February 2023, Ukraine will traditionally be represented at BIOFACH 2023. This will be the 10th participation of the Ukrainian organic exporters at the trade fair.

The organisation of the National Ukrainian Pavilion will be carried out by the State Institution “Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office” (Ukraine). The key topics of the event will be organic agriculture, climate protection and health care.