Reduced production of crop seeds in Ukraine due to war with Russia could affect the country’s grain production for several years, according to a piece in European Supermarket Magazine.
Ukraine, one of the world’s largest grain exporters, is widely expected to see its harvest shrink this year as Russia’s invasion disrupts farming.
The expected decline would also include farms that grow crops to provide seeds for the following year, potentially leaving Ukrainian farmers short of seed for 2023 planting, Claude Tabel, president of French seed makers association UFS, said.
With production plans for this year already set in other countries like France, a leading supplier to Ukraine, there would be little scope to offset what could be a drop of about half of Ukraine’s seed output, he said.
“We are entering a tunnel for the next two years probably with a lot of disruption for the seed sector,” Tabel said during a news conference.
Other organisations have also warned of prolonged effects on Ukrainian grain supply as the conflict has destroyed infrastructure and stalled trade in key supplies like fuel and fertiliser.
