BIOFACH 2024, the largest international trade fair for organic products, has started in Nuremberg, Germany, and every year it becomes a meeting place for national and international stakeholders of added value organic products from all around the world. 

This year, Ukraine is represented at the event by two National Pavilions and a collective stand. Another 3 companies are presenting their products at separate expositions. In total, 38 companies are showcasing the export potential of the Ukrainian organic sector, which is the largest number of exhibitors in the history of Ukraine's participation at BIOACH. 

Markiyan Dmytrasevych, Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, emphasised that the organic sector of Ukraine demonstrates resilience and unique business approaches that help to stay afloat despite all the challenges. He noted that despite the full-scale war, the organic sector in Ukraine has managed to preserve its existence, diversify its products and attract new players to the organic market. In 2022, exports of organic products remained almost at the same level as in 2021, and Ukraine became the third most important organic food supplier to the EU. 

“It is important to strengthen the presence of Ukrainian organic exporters representatives at the international level and to increase the awareness of the organic brand of Ukraine. Ukraine confirms its clear European integration course by setting the adaptation of national organic legislation to the EU organic regulation as a priority for 2024. I would like to express my gratitude to Cem Özdemir,  Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture for the warm welcome of the Ukrainian delegation and constant support of Ukraine”, said Markiyan Dmytrasevych, Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine. 

This year, for the first time at BIOFACH, the state logo for organic products was presented at the National Pavilion of Ukraine and the products labelled with it.

"We are proud that the state logo for organic products has appeared on the first Ukrainian organic products. Thanks to the accreditation of our first certification body, the launch of two state registers maintained by the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine and about 200 certified operators, the national organic legislation is being actively implemented”, said Markiyan Dmytrasevych.

“Despite the border blockades and relentless attacks by Russia for two years, the global demand for Ukrainian agri-food products, including organic ones, remains stable, and Ukrainian exporters fulfil their contractual obligations for organic products supply. Ukraine is the third largest importer of organic products to the EU, which confirms the responsibility of our producers to their international partners and demonstrates their unwavering strength, diligence and reliability, despite the great difficulties caused by the war. It is extremely important to convey this message to the international community. We know that the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine is working on the adaptation of organic legislation of Ukraine to the EU legislation. Our Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is ready to facilitate the fastest possible approval of such European integration legislative initiatives”, said Oleksandr Gaydu, Chairman, Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. 

As part of the national expositions of Ukraine at BIOFACH 2024, exporters present the following organic products (product groups): grains, cereals, vegetables, fruits, berries (dried, freeze-dried, frozen), melons, legumes, mushrooms, nuts, honey, oil, chocolate, juices, instant drinks without caffeine and sugar, berry pastes, baby food and snacks.   

“Promotion and support of Ukrainian exports is one of the key activities of the Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office. We also actively support organic exporters by creating opportunities for them to present their products at international trade fairs. BIOFACH is one of the key platforms for annual networking of organic sector stakeholders from all over the world. That is why the Institution, with the support of partners from Switzerland, the EU and the USA, has been organising the National Pavilion of Ukraine at this event for the third year in a row. In addition, thanks to funding from international partners, national expositions for organic producers at ANUGA and Middle East Organic & Natural Products Expo will be organised in 2023. The signing of export contracts following the participation of Ukrainian businesses at international trade fairs is the best indicator of the profitability of such projects. We are proud of the achievements of our producers and continue to create new support projects for Ukrainian business and strengthen Ukraine's reputation as a reliable business partner for foreign business”, said Andrii Lytvyn, Deputy Director of State Institution "Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office" (EEPO, Ukraine).  

Ukraine is also represented at the BIOFACH 2024 Congress, which in 2024 is being held under the slogan “Food of the Future: Women's Impact on Sustainable Food Systems” and is dedicated to the transformative power of women in the agri-food sector and their role in creating a more sustainable future for the organic food system.

Thus, during the Congress, the event with the participation of female representatives of Ukrainian business, government and non-governmental organisations who share the achievements and challenges of the organic sector of Ukraine in the context of the war is being held. 

For more information about the companies representing Ukraine at BIOFACH 2024, please follow the link: https://imp.export.gov.ua/802-ukraine_at_biofach_2024  

For reference: 

The National Pavilion of Ukraine at BIOFACH 2024 is organised by the State Institution “Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office” (Ukraine), the state project Diia.Business, under the patronage of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, in partnership with NGO Organic Ukraine and Organic Initiative Public Association, supported by Switzerland within the framework of the Swiss-Ukrainian Program “Higher Value Added Trade from the Organic and Dairy Sector in Ukraine” (QFTP), implemented by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL, Switzerland) in partnership with SAFOSO AG; EBRD and funded by Switzerland through the EBRD’s Small Business Impact Fund (donors to the SBIF are Italy, Ireland, Korea, Luxembourg, Norway, US, Switzerland, Sweden, Japan and TaiwanBusiness – EBRD Technical Cooperation Fund) Western NIS Enterprise Fund.

The National Pavilion is organised under the patronage of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, with the support of the German-Ukrainian Cooperation in Organic Agriculture Project (COA), funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, in cooperation with the Innovative Farming and Cooperation NGO and the Ukrainian Berries Association.

The collective stand is organised by the German Import Promotion Centre (IPD) with the financial support of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).