| dc.description | The organic agriculture sector in Ukraine has experienced steady growth since the early 2000s. Nevertheless, there remains a significant opportunity for further growth in the sector, not least due to its geographic proximity to the lucrative and growing organic markets of the European Union (EU), as well as the largely untapped potential of Ukraine’s domestic organic market. Key challenges for the further development of the sector include the recent political and economic instability in the country, limited knowledge on the benefits of organic agriculture among both farmers and the general population, and the subsequently underdeveloped domestic market. Organic goods, and in particular food products such as yogurt, cereal, honey and ice cream, are also typically sold at a premium to cover investment. This premium is often keeping domestic buyers away in Ukraine, leading to reduced production, thereby discouraging Ukraine’s agricultural producers from converting to organic practices. Another key barrier is obtaining organic certification. Most smallholder farmers in Ukraine are traditionally operating organically, but do not get international certification on organic products. There are also logistical and infrastructural barriers to growth, such as a lack of access or insufficient markets for organic products. | en_US |
