Ukraine and Italy discuss support for agricultural exports and additional grain storage

Ukraine and Italy discussed ways to support Ukrainian agricultural exports following Russian attacks on port infrastructure in Greater Odesa. Key areas include developing alternative export routes, restoring logistics infrastructure and creating additional crop storage capacity.

According to Agriculture and Food Minister Taras Vysotskyi, Ukraine exported only about one-third of its potential agricultural export volume in August. Alternative routes could increase this figure to around 50%, but they cannot fully replace the capacity of Black Sea ports.

Ukraine’s agricultural export potential is estimated at around 60 mln tons. If logistics constraints persist, significant volumes of agricultural products will require additional storage capacity. Grain storage bags and other temporary storage solutions are among the options being considered.

Ukraine has already secured about $35 mln in international assistance for temporary grain storage, including $25 mln from the World Bank and around $10 mln from other partners, but additional funding is still needed. Italy is considering providing support through FAO programs, including a voucher system that would allow farmers to pay for the necessary storage equipment and services.

The two sides also discussed the development of the EU Solidarity Lanes, rail routes, and the restoration of port and logistics infrastructure. They also addressed ongoing Ukrainian-Italian projects to modernize irrigation systems in Odesa region and the TERRA program, aimed at expanding access to financing for small and medium-sized agricultural businesses.

Tags: Ukraine, grain, grain storage, Italy