The Ukrainian Agribusiness Club and Farm Europe held a joint workshop in Gdansk on Ukraine’s role in the European Union’s path toward a low-carbon economy. The discussion focused on bioeconomy, agricultural integration, food security, energy security and the practical conditions needed for Ukraine and the EU to work as partners rather than competitors.
Participants argued that Ukraine’s agricultural potential should be treated as a strategic European resource. Former Romanian prime minister and former EU agriculture commissioner Dacian Cioloș said the debate is moving from whether Ukraine should join the EU toward how integration can create the greatest benefit for both sides.
Bioeconomy as a practical agenda
UCAB president Alex Lissitsa pointed to Ukraine’s biomass resources, large agricultural production base and accumulated expertise as competitive advantages. Farm Europe secretary general Luc Vernet stressed that EU decarbonization policy is already creating demand for bio-based products, but regulatory uncertainty, raw material limits and weak investment activity still slow the sector.
The main message is that Ukrainian agriculture can support Europe’s climate goals not only through raw materials, but also through renewable energy, processing capacity, innovation and long-term investment projects.
UCAB and Farm Europe plan to prepare a joint roadmap with recommendations on removing regulatory barriers, harmonizing Ukrainian and EU legislation and developing bioeconomy cooperation.
