Vitalii Koval, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, met with Ibrahim Yumakli, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye.

The meeting also featured Deputy Minister Oksana Osmachko, Head of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection Serhii Tkachuk, Head of the State Fisheries Agency Vladyslav Neveselyi, Head of the State Land Bank Yaroslav Yaroslavskyi and representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture of Türkiye.

The participants held the sixth meeting of the Ukrainian-Turkish working group on agriculture. The Ministers signed a Protocol on expanding our cooperation in the agricultural sector. In particular, on increasing the volume of trade in poultry, milk and dairy products, honey, live big and small cattle, vegetables, oil, fruits and organic products.

"The main agreements with our Turkish counterpart include expanding the volume of purchases of Ukrainian products, in particular corn and oil. In return, Türkiye is interested in supplying tractors and other agricultural machinery to Ukraine. We can also see the prospect of cooperation in this area. After all, Ukraine uses 4 times less machinery per hectare than Europe. That is why we agreed with the Minister to hold a meeting of Turkish and Ukrainian businesses and machine-building associations," said Vitalii Koval.

The Minister also told Ibrahim Yumakly about the possibility of exporting Ukrainian rapeseed oil. According to him, industrial rapeseed is used in the production of biodiesel, which can replace fuel in agricultural machinery.

"The development of bioenergy in general is one of the priorities of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food. Therefore, I see great potential in this area," said Vitalii Koval.

In addition, Vitaliy Koval suggested the Minister to increase exports of Ukrainian soybeans to Türkiye. Türkiye is interested in soybeans not only for food production but also as animal feed. Turkish businesses are already considering building feed and bioethanol plants in Ukraine.

The Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food is also interested in cooperation in land reclamation. Türkiye has a General Directorate of Water Management under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, which can share its experience in rebuilding irrigation systems with the Ukrainian State Agency for the Development of Land Reclamation, Fisheries and Food Programs.

At the end of the meeting, Vitalii Koval suggested that Ibrahim Yumakly convene the working group more frequently - once a quarter - to resolve issues of cooperation in the agricultural sector more quickly.

"We continue to work on removing bureaucratic obstacles to mutually beneficial trade," the Minister stressed.