Ukraine at BIOFACH
Ukraine was represented at BioFach, the world's leading trade fair for organic food, for the first time in 2014.[1] Since then, Ukraine has participated annually, including during the period of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As of 2025, Ukrainian companies have been represented at BIOFACH for 12 consecutive years.[2]
Timeline of Ukraine at BIOFACH
2014
Ukraine participated for the first time with an organic National Pavilion at BIOFACH. The pavilion included nine Ukrainian companies and was organised within the framework of the Swiss-Ukrainian Organic Market Development Project, funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and implemented by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL).[3] The participation allowed Ukrainian representatives to interact with international buyers and industry representatives and supported further cooperation in the field of organic agriculture.
2015
This year Ukraine participated in the international organic trade fair BIOFACH with a National Pavilion for the second time, featuring again nine exhibiting companies presenting certified organic food: cereals, pulses, sunflower seeds, oil, berries, and other products and services.[4] The pavilion was coordinated by a consortium of Ukrainian organic stakeholders with support from international partners.
2016
Eleven companies showcased their products within the National Pavilion of Ukraine during BIOFACH 2016. The pavilion was coordinated by a consortium of Ukrainian organic stakeholders with support from national and international partners.[5] According to the Organic Federation of Ukraine, approximately 400,000 hectares of agricultural land in Ukraine were certified organic at the time and cultivated by around 200 producers.[6]
2017
Seventeen Ukrainian companies participated in BIOFACH under the National Pavilion of Ukraine. The growth in exhibitor numbers corresponded with an increase in organically certified land and producers in Ukraine. The pavilion was supported by the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, alongside international partners.[7]
2018
Ukraine marked its fifth consecutive year of participation at BIOFACH with the National Pavilion of Ukraine representing twenty companies, including producers of cereals, oilseeds, berries, tea, tomato products, and a certification body. The exhibition area of the Ukrainian pavilion increased compared to previous years. The pavilion received support from Ukrainian authorities as well as international partners, including Swiss, German, and multilateral organisations.[8]
2019
Twenty-five Ukrainian exporters participated in BIOFACH 2019. The National Pavilion of Ukraine covered 130 m2 focused on higher value-added products, including oils, teas, honey, tomato paste, dairy products, juices, and fruit pastes. The Ukrainian policy delegation, led by Deputy Minister Olga Trofimtseva, attended the event to engage in international dialogue and meetings with policymakers and stakeholders in the organic sector.[9]
2020
A total of 37 Ukrainian companies were represented at BIOFACH 2020 through two collective stands and individual exhibition stands. Compared to earlier years, the range of products presented by Ukrainian exhibitors expanded. While the first National Pavilion of Ukraine primarily featured raw organic products, by 2020, a broader selection of higher value-added organic products was displayed. Seventeen Ukrainian companies, including producers, processors, and traders, participated in the National Pavilion under the name Organic Ukraine Business Hub.[10]
2021
BIOFACH 2021 was held online as BIOFACH eSpecial due to COVID-19 restrictions. Thirty-four Ukrainian exporters participated in the trade fair, with 22 companies presenting over 200 organic products within the National Pavilion of Ukraine, Organic Ukraine Business Hub. The pavilion was organised by a non-governmental organisation active in the Ukrainian organic sector, with support from American and Swiss international technical assistance programmes.[11]
2022
The 33rd BIOFACH took place from 26 to 29 July 2022. Thirty-two Ukrainian companies participated, including 21 within the National Pavilion of Ukraine.[12] Ukrainian representatives participated in congress sessions on the impact of war on agriculture and the development of organic farming in Eastern Europe. BIOFACH 2022 focused on Ukraine due to the Russian invasion on 24 February 2022.[13] The organisation of the pavilion was supported by government bodies as well as international partners.
2023
Twenty-three Ukrainian companies participated in BIOFACH 2023, showcasing grain crops, nuts, berries, fruit juices, sunflower oil, fruit rolls, baby food, snacks, breakfast cereals, and bio-based products. In 2022, Ukraine exported 225,814 tonnes of organic products to the European Union and Switzerland, representing a 13% increase compared with 2021, despite the ongoing full-scale war.[14] The documentary “Ukraine – One year after the war – Innovation power of organic farms” was presented within the pavilion.[15]
2024
Ukraine was represented by two National Pavilions, one collective stand, and three individual stands, totalling 38 companies.[16] For the first time, the state organic product logo was presented on products at the pavilion.[17] Despite the ongoing war and logistical disruptions, Ukraine remained the third-largest supplier of organic products to the European Union, according to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine.[18] The BIOFACH Congress included a session on women in Ukraine's organic sector during wartime.[19]
2025
Ukraine was represented through the National Pavilion and additional stands. Thirty-two Ukrainian exporters presented berries, fruits, dairy, nuts, honey, chocolate, grains, juices, baby food, snacks, oils, and other organic products.[20] In addition, a conference titled "Ukraine’s Organic Sector in the EU Integration Process – Challenges, Opportunities, and Post-War Resilience" held as part of the BIOFACH 2025 congress, brought together representatives of the trade sector and public authorities from Ukraine and the European Union to discuss the current situation in Ukraine and related trade and regulatory frameworks.[21]
Summary of participation by year
| Year | No. of companies | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 9 | First National Pavilion of Ukraine. |
| 2015 | 9 | Second participation with the National Pavilion of Ukraine presenting core Ukrainian organic product categories and services. |
| 2016 | 11 | Expanded organic product range, including dairy and processed goods. |
| 2017 | 17 | Growth of organic participants correspond with the increase in organically certified land and producers in Ukraine. |
| 2018 | 20 | Fifth anniversary; growth of National Pavilion of Ukraine area over the years. |
| 2019 | 25 | Stronger focus on higher value-added organic products. Participation of the Ukrainian policy delegation. |
| 2020 | 37 | Participation through two collective stands and individual exhibition stands |
| 2021 | 34 | Digital participation at BIOFACH eSpecial. Over 200 Ukrainian organic products were presented. |
| 2022 | 32 | Return to an in-person event; thematic focus on the impact of the war in Ukraine on the organic sector. |
| 2023 | 23 | Short film “Ukraine – One year after the war – Innovation power of organic farms” showcasing organic operators’ of Ukraine work in 2022. |
| 2024 | 38 | Organic sector of Ukraine are represented by two National Pavilions, a collective stand, and three companies exhibiting their products independently. Introduction of the Ukrainian state logo for organic products and the goods labelled with it. |
| 2025 | 32 | Focus on EU integration and the resilience of the Ukrainian organic sector during three challenging years of war. |
See also
References
- ^ "Ukraine – Successful presence at BIOFACH". Research Institute of Organic Agriculture. 2014-02-17. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
- ^ "24 Ukrainian Companies Showcase Organic Products at BIOFACH 2025". export.gov.ua. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
- ^ "Erfolgreiche Präsenz der Ukraine an der BIOFACH-Ausstellung". 2014-02-17. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
- ^ The Ukrainian pavilion at BIOFACH-2015: a high level of interest, international cooperation.
- ^ "The National Pavilion of Ukraine at BioFach 2016". Organicinfo.ua. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
- ^ "Ukraine at BIOFACH 2016: A successful exhibition". Research Institute of Organic Agriculture. 2016-03-01. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
- ^ "A reliable supplier of organic production: Ukraine's national stand as a good tradition of BioFach". germany.mfa.gov.ua.
- ^ "Ukrainian National Pavilion at the International Organic Trade Fair BioFach 2018". Organicinfo.ua. 2018-05-01. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
- ^ "UKRAINIAN POLICY DELEGATION AT THE BIOFACH". Organicinfo.ua. 2019-01-19. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
- ^ "31st International Trade Fair for Organic Food BIOFACH 2020". QFTP – Quality Food Trade Program. 2020-02-14. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
- ^ "The Ukrainian National Pavilion has been officially opened at BIOFACH 2021 eSPECIAL". Organicinfo.ua. 2021-02-17. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
- ^ "Organic Ukraine Business Hub". ГС «Органічна Україна». Retrieved 2026-02-04.
- ^ "BIOFACH 2022 – Focus on Ukraine". Organicinfo.ua. 2022-07-27. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
- ^ "Despite war, Ukraine exported by 13% more organic products to the EU and Switzerland as compared to 2021: Taras Vysotskyi". minagro.gov.ua.
- ^ "Organic Ukraine – resilient, robust, export-oriented".
- ^ "38 Ukrainian companies present organic products at an international trade fair in Germany". dpss.gov.ua.
- ^ "Thirty-eight Ukrainian companies present organic food products at BIOFACH trade fair". Retrieved 2026-02-04.
- ^ "38 Ukrainian companies present organic products at the international trade fair in Germany". minagro.gov.ua. Archived from the original on 2025-06-16. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
- ^ "Joint international support for Ukraine's presence at world-leading organic fair Biofach 2024". Research Institute of Organic Agriculture. 2024-02-08. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
- ^ "24 Ukrainian Companies Showcase Organic Products at BIOFACH 2025". export.gov.ua. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
- ^ "Ukraine: Organic is the Future!". Organicinfo.ua. Retrieved 2026-02-04.