Methodology for Determining Grain Stolen in Ukraine to be Developed in Lithuania

The UK Ministry of Agriculture is to finalize a methodology for verifying grain originating in Ukraine by the end of August.

Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Vitaliy Holovnya told Ukrinform in a commentary.

“Together with the Ministries of Agriculture of the United Kingdom and Lithuania, we have created a trilateral group that is developing a methodology for determining the origin of grain at the genetic level. By the end of August, the British side should provide a ready-made verification system and methods for employees of the relevant laboratories in Lithuania to check this grain. Training is planned for September. We hope that by the end of the year we will already have a result,” Golovnya said.

According to him, special laboratories will be deployed in Lithuanian ports to determine the country of origin of grain samples taken from ships.

“Why Lithuania? Because a lot of grain of Russian and Belarusian origin is shipped from Lithuanian ports. And this analysis will allow us to record whether stolen Ukrainian grain is being transported under the guise of that grain, or whether a mix of different grains is being made,” the deputy minister explained.

The UK has already received samples of Ukrainian grain to determine its genetic code. These are part of the samples that each region submits to the Research Institute for Plant Variety Expertise for research every year. Over the years, the institution has accumulated a sufficient genetic base that will now allow it to prove the true origin of the grain that Russians sell as their own.

“When we have developed the methodology in Lithuania, we will ask other countries to do similar analyzes,” the deputy minister added.

Tags: Lithuania, grain stolen, Ukraine, Russia