The Ministry of Agriculture of the United Kingdom is expected to complete work on the methodology for verifying the origin of grain from Ukraine by the end of August. Deputy Minister of Agricultural Policy and Food of Ukraine, Vitaliy Holovnia, disclosed this information.
"Together with the Ministries of Agriculture of the United Kingdom and Lithuania, we have established a trilateral group that is developing a methodology for determining the origin of grain at the genetic level. By the end of August, the British side should provide a ready verification system and methods for laboratories in Lithuania to verify this grain. Training is planned for September. We hope to have results by the end of the year," Holovnia explained.
He further mentioned that special laboratories will be set up in Lithuanian ports to analyze samples of grain taken from ships to determine their country of origin.
"Why Lithuania? Because a significant amount of Russian and Belarusian origin grain is shipped from Lithuanian ports. This analysis will allow us to verify whether Ukrainian grain is being smuggled under the guise of this grain or whether mixes are being made from different grains," the deputy minister clarified.
Samples of Ukrainian grain have already been provided to Britain to establish their genetic code. These samples are part of those regularly sent to the Scientific Research Institute for the Examination of Plant Varieties for research purposes. Over the years, the institute has accumulated a sufficient genetic database that will now help prove the true origin of grain that Russians are selling as their own.
"After refining the methodology in Lithuania, we will request other countries to conduct similar analyses," the deputy minister added.
