Despite russia's military terrorist aggression, international partners stand side by side with Ukraine and take all support measures to ensure food security, the Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy informs.
Thus, according to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, Ukraine and the UK are developing a system to accurately determine the origin of grain exported by russia, which will allow detecting the theft of Ukrainian grain products by russia.
The new system is based on high-precision laboratory analysis and comparison of grain samples, which will allow to establish the origin of grain with precision to the region. A comparative database of grain samples from different regions of Ukraine is currently being finalised, which will allow for comparison with samples taken from ships.
According to preliminary estimates, the system is expected to be launched in late summer or early autumn 2024, i.e. between August and September.
The results of laboratory analysis confirming that the grain on the vessel was stolen from the occupied territories of Ukraine can be used as a basis for legal action against the owners and carriers of this grain.
The application of specific measures, such as seizure of the vessel or imposition of fines, depends on several factors, including the country of registration of the vessel, its owner and legislation.
As early as 2022, Ukraine used satellite imagery to track vessels carrying suspected stolen grain and appealed to potential buyers to refrain from purchasing. However, such evidence based on satellite images was not sufficient, as russia is also a major grain producer.
Ukraine, Lithuania and the UK are also developing a new system to determine the origin of grain supplied by russia to world markets. The UK has almost completed the development of a methodology for chemical analysis of grain, which Lithuania plans to use to prevent the transport of stolen Ukrainian grain through its ports.