MAY 2026 | SEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPE I SEED WORLD EUROPE I 27 to find. The shortage is already slowing operations and driving up costs, prompting companies to invest more in workforce devel opment to strengthen core teams, improving mentorship and the exchange of expertise. FARMERS ADAPTING TO A NEW REALITY After four years since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, farmers have adapted to working even in frontline areas and on mined fields. The 2025 winter planting season was largely successful, with farmers managing to sow nearly all intended area on time. Still, approaches to crop mix for the 2026 harvest have shifted. Several factors are behind the change, including waning interest in soybeans due to a 10% export duty, low global prices, an oversupplied market, and the crop’s high sensitivity to drought. Ukraine’s most popular winter grains — i.e. wheat, rapeseed, and barley — have generally come through the winter without sig nificant losses, despite temperatures dropping to as low as -20°C. In most regions, losses are estimated at 3 to 5%, with potential reseeding not exceeding 10%. Ukraine’s spring planting campaign for 2026 is now gaining momentum. Weather conditions have delayed the start compared with last year, though the setback is not considered critical. The fastest progress is being recorded in the southern regions, where conditions allowed fieldwork to begin earlier than elsewhere. This year, total grain and oilseed area is projected at 16.6 mil lion hectares, holding steady with 2025 levels. The largest areas will be allocated to wheat, corn, sunflower, soybeans, barley, and rapeseed. Farmers are planting nearly all available land, and the crop mix remains largely unchanged from last year. This points to expecta tions of a stable domestic agricultural market. Global fluctuations in fuel and fertilizer markets have so far had little impact on planting in Ukraine, as farmers typically pur chase supplies in advance and begin the season with reserves of fuel and other materials sufficient for several weeks, and often months of work. EXPORTS REGAINING GROUND The European market is highly competitive and complex, where new players can struggle if they lack experience. Any misstep can affect Ukraine’s reputation as a whole. For that reason, Ukrainian producers are proceeding cautiously, carefully studying the rules of the market and focusing on transparent practices. Ukrainian seed continues to prove its competitiveness, season after season. Even during the ongoing Russian invasion, Ukrainian companies are signing new international contracts, upgrading facil ities, and expanding production. Corn seed exports to the EU are gradually bouncing back after the 2022–2024 slump. This recovery is driven by a mix of compet itive pricing, consistent quality, and seed shortages in several EU countries. Ukraine is strengthening its position as a production hub thanks to its solid infrastructure: over the last 10 to 15 years, about 15 corn seed plants have been built or modernized. A favourable climate and pricing flexibility allow Ukrainian seed to compete effectively in the global market. Non-GMO soybean seed also holds export potential in the EU, as production costs in Ukraine remain lower. For sunflower seed, alignment with EU standards is expected to support exports, though without driving a sharp increase. The EU will remain the primary export destination, notably Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Slovakia, as well as France, Spain, and Türkiye. THE ROAD TO EU ALIGNMENT For more than a decade, Ukrainian companies focused on the European market have been aligning their cultivation practices, certification, and seed processing with EU requirements. That groundwork has helped pave the way for decisions at the EU level. Automated packaging line preparing seed bags for distribution, highlighting Ukraine’s modern seed infrastructure and export-ready production capacity. Photo: NPZ.
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