26  I  SEED WORLD EUROPE  I  SEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPE | MAY 2026
T
he Russian invasion of Ukraine has placed the 
country’s seed sector under sustained strain, 
confronting it with a range of destabilizing 
challenges. These include an energy crisis caused 
by damage to infrastructure from ongoing attacks, 
disruptions to logistics due to port closures and 
restricted international routes, and labour shortages 
due to mobilization and migration.
Roughly 137,000 square kilometres of Ukraine’s 
territory remain mined, much of it agricultural land. 
For many farms, this makes it impossible to cultivate 
fields or plan production over the long term.
Despite these unprecedented difficulties, the 
country’s seed sector continues to operate, seeking 
out new pathways and opportunities.
KEEPING PRODUCTION ALIVE UNDER 
PRESSURE 
Even amid the ongoing Russian invasion, Ukraine’s 
seed sector continues to operate without halting pro­
duction. At the Association, we are seeing investment 
in local seed processing plants and upgrades to equip­
ment, along with the expansion of product lines. The 
seeds are produced according to international stand­
ards and undergo full-cycle quality control. Behind 
it all is the tireless, dedicated work of seed sector 
professionals at every level, from top management 
to entry-level staff.
Having withstood several extremely difficult 
seasons, companies are now planning production 
with energy risks in mind and working to streamline 
their processes. Maintaining seed quality requires 
continuous processing and drying, which directly 
increases costs. At the same time, logistics expenses 
have risen, both domestically and for exports.
Most producers have already adapted their oper­
ations and learned to work under the new conditions. 
With ongoing blackouts, they are investing in auton­
omous energy solutions and shifting toward self-suf­
ficiency in power supply. This inevitably increases 
operating costs, but companies understand that the 
coming periods will not be any easier.
A growing shortage of skilled personnel, driven 
by mobilization and migration, is adding to the 
pressure. The strain is most visible in production and 
technical roles, where demand for highly specialized 
experts is especially acute. Seed agronomists, pro­
cess engineers, and breeders are among the hardest 
SEEDS UNDER FIRE: 
UKRAINE HOLDS THE LINE
FROM BLACKOUTS TO EU INTEGRATION, THE COUNTRY’S SEED SECTOR IS NOT JUST SURVIVING THE 
RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE — IT IS REDEFINING ITS ROLE IN EUROPE’S FUTURE.
BY: SIUZANA 
GRYGORENKO, 
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 
OF THE SEED 
ASSOCIATION OF 
UKRAINE (SAU)
Aerial view of Ukrainian fields with trial plots for breeding and seed production, supporting high-quality standards and continued supply despite the Russian invasion. 
Photo: SPFE Company MAIS.

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