Ukraine is Europe’s largest soy exporter. Its soy exports make up 0.9% of the global supply, according to Statista. While this is miniscule compared to Brazil (49.7%) and the US (36.8%), it is the​ key source for soy grown in Europe.

According to Vitaliy Golovnya, Ukraine’s deputy minister for agrarian policy and food, soybean yields have seen a significant increase in recent years, despite the challenges of the war and despite a decrease in other key crops.

How can Ukrainian soy help Europe?

According to the organisation Donau Soja, Ukraine is the most important soy supplier in Europe. This is because, the organisation suggests, Ukraine’s soy can fulfil the need for deforestation-free and GMO-free soy demanded by the upcoming EUDR regulation. According to the organisation, the EUDR is expected to shift demand away from Brazilian soy towards soy like Ukraine’s, which has a lower deforestation risk.

The EU’s soya self-sufficiency rate is currently 8%, which, Donau Soja suggests, poses a threat to EU food security.

Ukraine is working hard to fulfil the requirements of the EUDR, according to Golovnya. He predicts that they will be ready by the 30 December deadline.

How has recent weather impacted Ukrainian soy?

The hot weather seen in Europe recently has decreased soy yields compared to Donau Soja’s forecasts, despite an increase in soy sowing in all major regions. Its revised prediction for Ukraine suggests the country’s soy area will grow by 10% in 2024, reaching two million hectares. Donau Soja predicts an output of 4.6 million tonnes, which is 3.2% less than the previous season.



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