UN World Food Program ready to purchase up to 1 million tons of Ukrainian grain

The UN World Food Program (WFP) is ready to purchase up to 1 million tons of grain from Ukraine to carry out its humanitarian operations, provided that the necessary financing and logistics are provided. This issue was discussed during a meeting between the Minister of Agricultural Policy and Food of Ukraine, Taras Vysotsky, and the WFP Deputy Executive Director for Partnerships and Innovation, Rania Dagash.

 

The parties discussed the export of Ukrainian agricultural products in the context of the blockade of ports, the development of alternative routes, WFP humanitarian programs, and the further implementation of the Food from Ukraine initiative.

 

Before the port blockade, Ukraine exported almost 90% of its agricultural products by sea. Now, about 50% of the required supplies are sent via alternative routes (in particular, via the Danube and the port of Constanta), but such transportation has become longer and more expensive.

 

Currently, the main task for Ukraine is to preserve the harvest, ensure the possibility of its processing and export, for which all available alternative routes are used, although they cannot completely replace sea deliveries.

 

"Together with international partners, we are looking for solutions that will allow us to more actively supply Ukrainian agricultural products to the world market," the minister said.

 

WFP representatives reported that they are also working on alternative routes, as they continue to purchase Ukrainian grain and transport it through Constanta. At the same time, WFP, together with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), is working on the World Food Invest Ukraine investment instrument (US$50 million), which will be aimed at supporting enterprises in frontline areas, in particular agricultural producers, processors and storage operators.