To Europe Without GMOs: How Ukrainian Farmers Are “Encouraged” to Grow Non-GMO Soybeans
14 May 14:01
ANALYSIS FROM 
This spring, many Ukrainian farmers who grow soybeans and rapeseed were likely wondering which variety to plant—genetically modified or not. And they had plenty of reason to ponder this question. How Ukraine’s agricultural sector is moving away from GMOs—we investigated
On September 16 of this year, the law “On State Regulation of Genetic Engineering Activities and State Control Over the Placement of Genetically Modified Organisms and Products on the Market” comes into effect. It introduces real mechanisms for product quality control and liability for violations. In fact, this not only forced farmers to choose what to plant but also sparked rumors of an alleged total ban on soybean cultivation. And indeed, some restrictions are being introduced by the aforementioned law.
What Remains in the “Shadows”
Genetically modified crops are not registered or permitted for cultivation in Ukraine. A statement to this effect was made not long ago by an official from the Ministry of Economy. But the lack of proper control mechanisms and real sanctions for violations allowed even the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to write in its reports: “According to market rumors, 50% of soybeans in Ukraine are GMOs, 1% of rapeseed, and another 2–3% of corn.” At least, this is what Volodymyr Pugachov, Executive Director for Eastern Europe at the “Danube Soya” Association, told journalists at a recent meeting . In other words, these are purely estimates. There are no official data on how many and which genetically modified (GM) crops have been grown in Ukraine recently.
Oleksandr Zakharchuk, head of the department at the National Scientific Center “Institute of Agrarian Economics,” cites the following data:
“In the unofficial or ‘shadow’ market, according to estimates by researchers at the Institute of Agrarian Economics, approximately half of the soybeans were genetically modified, about 10% of rapeseed was GM, and less than 1% of corn was GM. At the same time, the share of GM soybeans in Ukraine is rapidly declining. Currently, some experts estimate it at as low as 25% of the total soybean market. However, there are no accurate government statistics regarding the proportions of GM soybean and non-GM soybean cultivation.”
Oleksandr Buyukli, executive director of the First Ukrainian Agricultural Cooperative, also points to the lack of official statistics. According to him, the market operates solely on estimates derived from export data. Ukrainian producers do not risk supplying such GM products to Europe.
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“As for soybeans, traders estimate the share of GMOs at 40–60% of total production volumes. This is because we have a large processing sector in Ukraine, and a significant portion of GM soybeans ends up there. According to market estimates, GM rapeseed accounts for no more than 10–20%. We export oilseeds to the European market, where GMO regulations are very strict. Therefore, Ukrainian producers do not compromise on quality and grow GMO-free products. As for corn, very few GMO varieties are planted; according to market estimates, up to 5% of the total crop,” the expert notes.
Soybeans hold a clear lead in this GMO ranking. Therefore, the publication
“In Ukraine, there is no official commercial distinction between GM and non-GM soybeans in the seed market. GM soybeans are easier to grow and maintain, as they require fewer weed control treatments and simplify production technology. This reduces costs and makes them convenient for farmers. GM soybeans can also provide stable or higher yields depending on growing conditions.”
In other words, the reasons for growing GM crops are primarily economic: farmers were attracted by slightly higher yields, cheaper seeds, and simpler crop protection technology. But soon, the significance of economic factors will have to be adjusted by regulatory restrictions.
What the law changes
It is worth emphasizing once again that rumors of a ban on growing soybeans, for example, are greatly exaggerated. The law on the regulation of genetic engineering activities, which will take effect on September 16 of this year, focuses on GMOs and GM products. However, specific prohibitions are established by this law. For example, they apply to research and testing, state registration, placing on the market, and importation into the customs territory of Ukraine of genetically modified corn, as well as the cultivation of genetically modified sugar beets and rapeseed for a period of five years. Cultivation is permitted only for research and testing in an open system with the appropriate authorization.
The new GMO law is, first and foremost, about the transition from symbolic regulation to a system featuring registries, traceability, oversight, and penalties. This is emphasized by Oleksandr Buyukli, executive director of the First Ukrainian Agricultural Cooperative.
“The main effect is not that GMOs have suddenly been banned, but that a more effective mechanism for control, traceability, and sanctions is emerging. For example, for the ‘gray’ segment of GM soybeans, this means an increased risk: it will be harder to mix streams, harder to hide the origin, and there is a practical risk of fines and claims for unregistered products. “In other words, the new law will certainly provide an incentive for some farms to move into the non-GMO segment,” the expert notes.
The entry into force of the new law signifies Ukraine’s transition to significantly stricter and more formalized control over the circulation of GMOs, and in practical terms—the consolidation of the existing trend toward the displacement of unregistered GM seeds from the market. This is the view of Oleksandr Zakharchuk, head of a department at the Institute of Agricultural Economics and a corresponding member of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences.
“Government initiatives are focused on origin, traceability, and exports. For soybeans, for example, rules for confirming origin and timeframes for product exports are being introduced, but not a general ban on circulation. At the same time, it should be remembered that the industrial cultivation of any GM crop is not officially permitted in Ukraine!!!” the expert emphasizes.
Starting September 16, 2026, no genetically modified organism or GMO product may be legally placed on the market without state registration. This applies to both commercial cultivation and sales. Antonina Sklyarenko, president of the Ukrainian Legume and Soybean Association, draws attention to this.
“There is nothing fundamentally new regarding the ban on unregistered GMOs: anything that is unregistered and in circulation is already illegal. The new law simply makes this system more effective: it introduces clearer procedures for registration, traceability, labeling, and control, as well as rules for the parallel use of GM crops alongside conventional and organic crops. In substance, the new law generally aligns with the European Union model. “In the EU, GM soy is permitted on the market primarily for use in food and feed, but not for cultivation,” the expert emphasizes.
However, as experts note, inconsistencies are possible. For example, in Ukraine, the registration, testing, and cultivation of genetically modified corn are completely banned. At the same time, in the EU, corn is the only crop for which the cultivation of GM hybrids is permitted.
How the market is reacting
The Law “On State Regulation of Genetic Engineering Activities and State Control over the Placing on the Market of Genetically Modified Organisms and Products” was adopted in August 2023 and will take effect in September 2026. In other words, the transition period has been extended by a full three years. Consequently, Ukrainian farmers—especially those who had opted for GM crops—had time to prepare and adjust their plans and actions. What impact could the expected regulatory restrictions have on the market and on planting? The perspective of Oleksandr Buyukli, Executive Director of the First Ukrainian Agricultural Cooperative.
“The market may already be slowly shifting toward cleaner, documented, and certified non-GMO supply chains. In other words, the effect could be a redistribution of flows: non-GMO crops to markets where there is a premium and EU requirements; everything questionable to domestic processing, if controls allow.”
Oleksandr Zakharchuk, head of a department at the Institute of Agricultural Economics, notes that non-GMO soy has become commercially more attractive, particularly due to demand from the EU.
“According to market estimates, farmers are already gradually moving away from GM soybeans. For the planting season, this has several practical implications. First, farms that previously used GM soybeans are forced to either switch to certified non-GM seeds or operate in a gray area with an increased risk of inspection. Second, large producers face a growing need for separate logistics flows, storage, and documentation to avoid mixing different soybean batches. Third, the market now has an additional incentive to grow soybeans not as cheap feedstock of unconfirmed origin, but “for export”—as a non-GM product,” the expert notes.
One way or another, the new regulatory restrictions should not affect soybean planting volumes: information provided by the Ukrainian Legume and Soybean Association confirms farmers’ readiness to continue working with soybeans. According to the association’s president, Antonina Sklyarenko, approximately 2.07 million hectares were planted with soybeans in 2025, while about 2.03 million hectares are projected for 2026. Such a slight difference, she said, suggests that restrictions related to the cultivation of GM crops will not have a significant impact, at least on the total area of soybean plantings during the current planting season.
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