The Ukrainian Pulse Association participated in an online meeting organized by Ukraine’s Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, Vitalii Koval, and Poland’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Czesław Siekierski. This dialogue included representatives of 13 leading Ukrainian agricultural associations, among them the Ukrainian Pulse Association.
The event continued the discussions initiated during the Agro&Food Security Forum 2024, held on December 2-3 in Warsaw, which was co-organized by the Ukrainian Pulse Association and the Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce.
In his speech, Minister Vitalii Koval emphasized the importance of international cooperation:
"Poland is not just a close neighbor but one of our largest trading partners. First and foremost, I want to thank Mr. Czesław Siekierski for our meeting last week at the Agro&Food Security Forum 2024. This landmark conference in Warsaw sparked significant interest in our cooperation. Over 250 companies from 22 countries discussed global agribusiness projects. It is crucial for us to ensure uninterrupted trade between our countries, benefiting both sides. This is a point of synergy where we can jointly export our products to third markets and foster collaboration".
Antonina Sklyarenko, President of the Ukrainian Pulse Association, highlighted the readiness of Ukrainian producers to meet the Polish market’s demand for soybeans and other protein crops:
"In 2024, the majority of Ukrainian peas were exported to Turkey, India, and Italy. For example, only 1,000 tons were supplied to Poland. We are aware that Poland currently imports soybeans from the United States due to a shortage in the local market. However, Ukraine is fully capable of fulfilling this demand, ensuring seamless soybean supplies to Poland. Regarding protein crops, there are no unresolved issues between our countries, making it possible to establish effective cooperation. I sincerely thank everyone for this constructive dialogue and am confident that we will continue working together in this direction".
Amid the challenges posed by the war in Ukraine, dialogue between Ukrainian and Polish agrarian market stakeholders has taken on heightened significance. Minister Koval called for deepening cooperation and mutual understanding:
"When someone claims that the price of Ukrainian products is lower than European prices and harms competition, it’s important to remember that Ukraine is at war. Our farmers operate under unequal conditions, and exporting their products is a matter of survival and of sustaining the budget of a country at war. It’s our tractors that hit mines, and our combine operators who die from drone strikes. It’s our farms that have to milk cows without electricity, and our land—20% of it—is temporarily occupied by the enemy. Despite all this, we respect trade rules and do not violate them".
Vitalii Koval thanked his Polish counterpart and representatives of both countries’ associations for actively engaging in the negotiations and encouraged further exploration of mutually beneficial opportunities.