Over a four-day period – from 26 to 29 July 2022 the organic community presented the organic market achievements at the world’s leading fair for organic products BIOFACH.
This year’s fair was held in summer for the first time ever and, following a 29-month break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it gathered over 24,000 visitors from 137 countries.
In the frame of the fair the traditional congress was held, which offered over 120 thematic sessions, dedicated, in particular, to the current market development and trends, policy and legislative changes.
The representatives of Ukraine participated in three sessions: CEE session “Organic targets in the shadow of war. How does the military conflict affect agricultural policies of the CEE region?”, panel discussion “Organic farming in Ukraine 5 months after the beginning of the war – status quo and outlook”, and session “Accelerating the development Organic Sector in Eastern Europe”.
In particular, Andrii Remizov, Acting Director of State Institution “Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office”, presented the situation in the organic sector before the full-scale invasion and the current situation after 5 months of war based on the survey of organic business which had been conducted on the eve of BIOFACH.
In addition, in the frame of the National Pavilion of Ukraine, the panel discussion on organic agriculture development in Ukraine was held, where the ESG roadmap for organic agriculture, training module on DIIA.BUSINESS platform on assessment of readiness to ESG implementation at the enterprises, and new prospects of carbon farming in Ukraine were discussed.
During the tour around the fair the delegation of high-ranking European officials led by EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski and German Minister of Food and Agriculture Cem Ozdemir visited the National Pavilion of Ukraine.
The National Pavilion of Ukraine was represented by 21 exhibitors, who had over 1,300 meeting with the existing and potential partners from the EU, Switzerland, USA, Canada and Middle East countries. Overall, more than 40 Ukrainian companies participated in the fair.
The next BIOFACH will take place soon – from 14 to 17 February 2023. The key question of the traditional congress will be “Organic farming, climate protection and health: What’s the connection between healthy soil and healthy people?”
Kateryna Shor, OrganicInfo.ua
For reference:
- More details on the 4 days of the fair on Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office Facebook page.
The National Pavilion of Ukraine Organic Ukraine Business Hub was organized by the State Institution “Entrepreneur and Export Promotion Office” and Organic Ukraine NGO in partnership with the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine with support of UNDP in Ukraine and Switzerland in the frame of the Programs “Higher Value Added Trade from Organic and Dairy Sector in Ukraine” and “Organic Trade 4 Development in Eastern Europe” (OT4D)