The Odesa Regional Phytosanitary Laboratory modernizes while still providing essential services to agricultural exporters as operations return to the big Odesa ports. The laboratory analyzes grain crops using cutting-edge molecular diagnostics equipment and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods for plant disease detection. USAID, through it’s Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), supplied the laboratory with equipment and consumables.

The laboratory processes up to 30 samples daily for various tests. In 2024 alone, its specialists analyzed over 24,000 samples and conducted more than 80,000 tests. While this is slightly less than in previous years (over 27,000 samples in 2023 and more than 29,000 in 2022), modernization increased the quality and speed of analyses.

PCR testing equipment allows for real-time plant pathogen detection, reducing the time needed to issue phytosanitary certificates required for export to ensure the timely delivery of agricultural products to global markets. While undergoing the accreditation process, the lab has begun conducting potato analyses using PCR testing.

Acting Director of the Odesa Phytosanitary Laboratory, Kateryna Abuselidze, shared,
“Previously, analyzing potatoes could take up to seven days. Thanks to the equipment provided by USAID ERA, the process is now three times faster. This allows our clients to obtain results quickly, ensuring their agricultural products continue their journey to countries waiting for them. It’s inspiring that, even during wartime, Ukraine continues to feed the world and deliver grain to global markets.”

In April 2024, a remote workstation opened at Reni Port. USAID ERA provided a full set of equipment, consumables, and PCR tests. During the beginning of the war, specialists in Reni conducted about 15% of all tests. However, as exports returned to Odesa, this figure dropped to 2-4%. Still, the Reni branch remains essential, enabling quick sample processing and minimizing logistical costs for clients.

While technological advancements have increased efficiency, they have also raised the cost of analyses. For example, a PCR test for a potato sample now costs $60, compared to $35 using the older method. This price difference reflects the high accuracy of modern methods, which clients are willing to pay for, given the quality assurance.

USAID ERA supported 10 of 25 phytosanitary laboratories in all of Ukraine, providing consumables for daily testing.

USAID, through its Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), delivered a mobile loader with feed hoppers to UGTC Trade. The equipment is installed in Odesa Oblast and will strengthen UGTC Trade’s grain and oilseed loading capabilities, shorten the logistics chain from producer to end recipient, and enable the company to offer better prices to agricultural producers.

The new mobile loader will support UGTC Trade to export approximately 30,000 tons of grain monthly. Before receiving the equipment, they either used third-party services to load the ships or sold products on “Free Carrier” (FCA) terms, handing grain to other companies with loading facilities that handled the port operations. This arrangement limited UGTC Trade’s ability to offer better prices to farmers, as they had to factor in the additional costs. Now, with the new USAID-provided equipment, UGTC Trade can independently handle loading operations and offer better prices to agricultural producers, creating a shorter logistics chain from producer to end recipient.

Despite Russia’s constant attacks on Odesa Oblast, UGTC Trade maintains stable operations.

Background: Assistance to agricultural producers and infrastructure companies is part of the Agriculture Resilience Initiative (AGRI) – Ukraine, implemented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It aims to help Ukraine increase its capacity to produce, store, transport, and export grain.

On November 12, USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) representative, Thomas O’Callaghan, Supply Chain and Export Logistics Lead, and Alex Lissitsa, President of the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB), Chairman of the Board of IMC, facilitated the seminar, “Grain Exports: Expanding Sales Channels & New Opportunities from Ukraine,” at the Fastmarkets Global Grain Geneva 2024 conference.

At the seminar, 16 Ukrainian grain exporters pitched and shared their company profiles, their experiences on how the Ukrainian grain sector has adapted during the full-scale invasion, logistical disruptions, and economic instability. Ukraine is ready and willing to tackle new and existing markets with vigor with their improved logistical supply chains, as evidenced by the reputable growers and shippers in attendance at the conference and in Switzerland, highlighting their resiliency.

◾ Agrochemtechnology ◾ Agroprosperis Group ◾ AGROTRADE GROUP ◾ Astarta-Kyiv ◾ GRAIN ALLIANCE ◾ Continental Farmers Group ◾ Eridon ◾ Agro Region ◾ Hermes-Trading ◾ IMC ◾ LNZ Group (UA) ◾ OKKO GROUP ◾ Risoil Ukraine ◾ ТАС Агро ◾ Tradex Agri Group ◾ UGTC TRADE

On November 12-14, the USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) with Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB) attended Fastmarkets Global Grain Geneva 2024 conference to promote Ukraine’s grain export capabilities and to seek new commercial opportunities for UCAB members on the global grain market. More than 800 participants from 500 companies and over 55 countries attended this prestigious event.

Importers, traders, brokers, shippers, policy makers and other sector stakeholders joined and used this international platform to expand networking opportunities, build relationships, gather valuable market insights and expand commercial activity in agricultural commodities markets.

UCAB’s booth enabled delegates from various countries within the supply chain to meet directly with 16 Ukrainian exporters and companies to discuss commercial sales opportunities for new and existing markets.

ERA’s Supply Chain and Export Logistics Lead, Thomas O’Callaghan, attended and noted, “Global Grain Geneva provides Ukrainian exporters a valuable opportunity to meet directly with key commercial decision makers in the global grain and oilseed trade. Over the course of three days, the UCAB stand facilitated commercial connectivity and face-to-face meetings with 82 international trading and shipping companies located in 27 countries across the world. This event not only gave Ukrainian exporters the chance to articulate in person the value of Ukrainian grain and oilseed products, it also gave international buyers a better understanding of the ongoing opportunities and value proposition to source directly from producers within Ukraine’s largest export sector”.

USAID, through its Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), delivered a mobile loader with two feed hoppers to Agromino, a Ukrainian grain and oilseed producer operating in the eastern and central regions. Installed in Odesa Oblast, the equipment will double the grain loading efficiency onto cargo ships. This boost in speed will reduce ships’ exposure time at the port, minimizing vulnerability to potential Russian missile strikes and helping maintain critical grain exports through Ukraine’s Black Sea ports.

Agromino expects that the new mobile loader with feed hoppers will enable the company to reduce the time loading grain onto a 22,000-ton cargo ship from 10-12 days to 5 days. From a security standpoint, shorter loading times minimize the exposure of crew, vessel, and cargo to potential Russian missile strikes. Economically, faster loading improves ship turnover and reduces logistics costs. In addition, the new equipment will optimize labor efficiency, addressing labor shortage issues directly. Instead of maintaining a port team of laboratory technicians, weighers, and loading personnel for 12 days, the same work will be completed in less than half the time, with a more intensive and productive use of the labor force.

Moreover, the new equipment will replace a labor-intensive and dangerous loading method. Previously, Agromino relied on ship cranes to load grain, lifting 12-ton buckets and emptying it into the ship’s hold controlled by certified slingers—physically strong, specialized workers trained in cargo strapping for loading operations, all of whom are male and subject to military conscription during wartime.

In 2022, Russia’s missiles heavily damaged a modern elevator in Vovchansk, Kharkiv Oblast, and their soldiers pillaged the crops stored there. Despite Russia’s constant shelling, Agromino maintains its operations in Eastern Ukraine. Also, the company cooperates with more than 80 small and medium-sized farmers from the eastern regions, ensuring the delivery of their grain to the world market.

Background: Assistance to agricultural producers and infrastructure companies is part of the Agriculture Resilience Initiative (AGRI) – Ukraine, implemented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It aims to help Ukraine increase its capacity to produce, store, transport, and export grain.

USAID, through its Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), delivered a second pilot boat to the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA) to improve the efficiency and safety of pilots moving to and from vessels navigating the Danube ports. The pilot boat, Lotsman Bolotin, will replace the outdated pilot boat, Aldebaran, to transport maritime pilots 16% faster to arriving and departing export vessels, ultimately reducing delays and increasing agricultural export turnover to get grain to global markets.

The pilot boat was built in Izmir, Turkey and is specially designed to operate in enclosed harbors and rivers, which is particularly important for ensuring pilot operations in the ports of the Danube region. The pilot boat can accommodate 8 pilots and 2 crew members onboard and move as fast as 32 km/hour; however, the average operational speed is around 15 km/hour. At the average speed, the boat can operate for up to three days without refueling. The 15-meter pilot boat is made of marine grade aluminum and painted orange, making it visible on the water under any conditions. The boat features a wide range of European and American equipment featuring two American Cummins engines  and two Alamarin waterjets from Finland.

 Lotsman Bolotin is named after Captain Borys Bolotin (1940-2019), a first-class maritime pilot who served as both the Deputy Head (2009-2013) and Head of Danube Unified Sea Pilotage Service of Delta Lotsman (2004-2009). After graduating from Kherson Maritime Lyceum, he dedicated his life to maritime shipping on the Danube. He is buried in Izmail.

Next month, ERA will deliver the third pilot boat, Lotsman Cheberiakov, also being built in Izmir.

Recently, the second pilot boat USAID is building for USPA, named Pilot Cheberiakov, successfully completed sea trials. In total, USPA will receive three pilot boats to further strengthen the export capacity of the Ukrainian economy on the Danube and Black Sea ports.

Background: Assistance to agricultural producers and infrastructure companies is part of the Agriculture Resilience Initiative (AGRI) – Ukraine, implemented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It aims to help Ukraine increase its capacity to produce, store, transport, and export grain.