According to research on the grain and oilseed seed market conducted by the USAID AGRO Activity, Ukraine has significant potential for developing its own seed varieties, but the agricultural sector still relies heavily on imports.
In recent years, there has been a steady trend of declining production of domestically bred seeds: in 2022, the production of seeds for major grain and legume crops of Ukrainian selection amounted to 61.2 thousand tons, compared to 118.4 thousand tons in 2021 and 156.6 thousand tons in 2020. Production decreased by more than 60.9% over two years.
Currently, domestically bred seeds account for only 25% of the total volume of certified seeds purchased and only 5% of the total value of certified seeds annually bought by farmers. Meanwhile, the share of Ukrainian-bred varieties in the State Register of Plant Varieties in Ukraine is 47%, indicating untapped research potential. Market players note that domestic seeds show comparable results to imported seeds in field trials.
Enhancing the competitiveness of national seed production requires promoting national varieties and hybrids with significant yield potential, high-quality indicators, and resilience to climate changes and environmental stress for broader use by agricultural producers.
