Ukraine in the markets of organic agri-food products of the European Union: Analytics, trends, and prospects

The study of the role of the Ukrainian agricultural sector in meeting the demand for organic products in the European Union is vital for understanding and maximising the benefits for Ukraine. This is crucial in the context of the development of the organic market and expanding cooperation with Europe, which indicates the relevance of the problem discussed in the present study. The purpose of this study was to identify the current position, dominant trends, and prospects for increasing Ukrainian organic imports to the European Union. The methodological framework of this study included the general and special methods of scientific cognition: monographic, dialectical, tabular, graphical, abstract and logical, and comparative analysis. The study analysed the vectors and dynamics of development of organic agriculture in the European Union, specifically, identified the growth of domestic and import demand for organic products, expansion of the list of commodity items, the existence of a gap between supply and demand, and high concentration of the commodity structure of imports. The study found the principal factors that ensure Ukraine’s leading position among the key importers of organic food: geographical location, increase in domestic production of organic products, improvement of the system of its certification, and establishment of partnerships with the European Union. Ukraine’s position in most commodity groups of import demand for organic products has been strengthened: specifically, Ukraine’s share of imports has increased, and its structural characteristics have improved in terms of increasing the share of high value-added products. The study highlighted the barriers faced by Ukrainian exporters when entering the European market and acting as a deterrent to expanding the volume and range of exported organic products. The areas for increasing the potential of Ukraine in meeting the demand for organic products in the European Union were outlined. The findings of this study provide valuable information for producers, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders involved in the development of the organic market in Europe and sustainable agriculture. The outlined priorities for the development of organic production in Ukraine can underlie the development of a national programme aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the Ukrainian organic industry in the markets of the European Union