b"should view the seed industry as one of the technological sectors that create added value. This sector is quite complex, involving issues such as the use and pro-tection of seed and plant material rights. It is precisely in this area that government attention is needed to ensure Ukraine's full integration into the European and global seed markets.Grygorenko highlights that for the mentioned law to benefit all market participants, a series of regulations must be developed to govern specific aspects of GMO use and other issues related to the seed sector. Upon joining the EU, all current permits will be revoked, and only GMOs approved by the EU will be allowed.On the Possibility of Renewed Export BansIn May 2023, representatives from Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Romania successfully lobbied the European Commission to ban imports of wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower from Ukraine. This embargo lasted until September 15, 2023, with Poland indepen-dently blocking Ukrainian grain imports within its borders, allowing only transit. Treated corn seeds, ready for sowing.SOURCE: LNZMembers of the Seed Association of Ukraine have been closely monitoring the situation and note that, in 2024, exporting Ukrainian grain to the EU remains com- The Impact of Economic Conditionsequipment, lost production, and dam-plex. Both the Ukrainian government andon Agricultural Sector Productivity aged infrastructure.the European Commission are currentlyAccording to the Ministry of AgrarianLogistics for agricultural producers working to prevent a recurrence of suchPolicy, around 30% of the agriculturalhave not only become more complicated bans, but some Central European coun- sectors potential has been destroyed,but also more expensive. While transport tries are still considering new restrictions.and 20% of farmland is currently occu- routes for goods are now largely under To address this, the Ukrainian governmentpied due to the full-scale invasion.control in 2024, forecasting logistics costs is developing an export licensing system,Approximately 2 million hectares ofremains a problem.aimed at preventing sudden price spikesfarmland remain uncleared of mines, withThe labor shortage is another press-and ensuring transparency in exportprogress being very slow due to a short- ing issue. According to AgroHub, 64% of operations. age of demining personnel and special- the 121 surveyed agricultural enterprises To avoid a repeat of these challenges,ized equipment. are struggling with a lack of specialists, a coordinated effort is needed at all levelsLarge areas in the southern regions,as many Ukrainians have either left thegovernmental, industry associations,once used for agriculture, now requirecountry or been mobilized. The shortage and civil society. Advocacy and aware- rehabilitation after being flooded due tois particularly severe for technical work-ness initiatives will help communicate tothe destruction of the Kakhovka hydro- ers, agronomists, and engineers.Europeans that integrating the Ukrainianelectric power plant by Russian forces. Trofimtseva notes that the agricultural agricultural market with the EU will ulti- The Kyiv School of Economics esti- sector continues to operate in survival mately strengthen Europe's competitive- mates that the Russian invasion hasmode. While some producers may be ness against China, the United States, andcaused $80 billion in losses to Ukraine'sfaring better, those in frontline regions are South America. agricultural sector, including destroyedstruggling. Overall, the longer the Russian 44/ SEEDWORLD.COMINTERNATIONAL EDITION 2025"