Details of Turkey’s plan to safeguard Black Sea grain trade revealed

Details have emerged of a new mechanism proposed by the Turkish Agricultural Diplomacy Group (TTDG) to safeguard agricultural trade in the Black Sea. Earlier reports said Turkey was considering a new system to protect civilian shipping, but TTDG has now presented a specific seven-point plan based on the experience of the 2022 Black Sea Grain Initiative.

One of the key elements would be a separate agreement to protect civilian grain infrastructure from attacks, including terminals, elevators, storage facilities and loading infrastructure. For vessels carrying grain, oilseeds, edible oils, fertilizers and other agricultural cargoes, the plan proposes a notification and coordination system, as well as a voluntary registry confirming a vessel’s civilian status, cargo and declared route.

Turkey could once again become the center of international coordination. The plan envisages using the experience of the Joint Coordination Centre that operated in Istanbul under the 2022 grain deal. It also proposes a war-risk insurance and guarantee mechanism involving Turkey, international financial institutions, private insurers and reinsurers to reduce risks for shipowners.

Two other elements focus on alternative logistics and market monitoring. TTDG proposes expanding the capacity of Danube ports and rail and road routes linking Ukraine with Romania and Bulgaria. At the same time, data from FAO, WFP and IGC could be used for an early-warning system. If prices and freight rates rise sharply or exports and stocks fall to critical levels, alternative procurement, financing or humanitarian support mechanisms could be activated.

TTDG stresses that land routes and the Danube cannot fully compensate for the loss of Black Sea export capacity. The group has called on Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, the UN, Black Sea countries, international financial institutions, as well as representatives of the grain, shipping and insurance sectors to begin negotiations on the new mechanism.

The TTDG plan includes seven main points:

1. Protection of grain infrastructure from attacks. Grain terminals, elevators, warehouses and loading facilities should be covered by a clearly defined agreement protecting civilian food infrastructure from attacks.
2. Safe navigation for civilian agricultural cargoes. Vessels carrying grain, oilseeds, edible oils, fertilizers and other essential agricultural products should operate under a transparent notification, coordination and route-confirmation system.
3. International coordination based in Turkey. Ankara would act as mediator and coordination hub, drawing on the experience and institutional framework of the Joint Coordination Centre established in Istanbul in 2022.
4. Registry of vessels carrying food cargoes. A voluntary verification system would confirm the civilian status of participating vessels, their cargoes and declared routes. The aim is to distinguish civilian agricultural shipments from military activity and operations exposed to sanctions-related risks.
5. War-risk insurance and guarantees. Turkey, international financial institutions, private insurers and reinsurers would jointly develop a financial protection mechanism for civilian vessels carrying agricultural products through the Black Sea.
6. Expansion of alternative corridors. The plan calls for increasing the capacity of Danube ports, railways and road networks, as well as transport links between Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria.
7. Early-warning and response system. Data from FAO, WFP and IGC would be used to monitor global and regional prices, freight rates, exports and stocks. If agreed indicators reach critical levels, alternative procurement, additional financing or humanitarian assistance mechanisms could be activated.

Tags: Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, Black Sea region, Black Sea grain corridor