Source: Ukragroconsult (Ukraine)
In the harvest-2024 wheat of I class is 1%, ІІІ class – 7.4%, ІІІІ class – 18.6%, IV class – 56.3%, non-standard – 16.7%. At the same time, wheat that can be used directly for food purposes – 27.0% compared to 25.3% in 2023.
“In 2020, Ukraine had 10.1% of the harvest of wheat of the first class. It is this amount that is the minimum required for the flour milling industry. But already in 2021 such wheat was 3%, in 2022 – 1%, in 2023 – 0%. Farmers do not want to grow high-protein wheat, because it is not profitable for them, because the difference in price is very small at a much higher cost,” said Oleg Onishchenko.
At the same time, the expert noted that domestic demand for high quality wheat is not satisfied, which directly affects the quality of bakery products. In his opinion, futures contracts and internal standards for the flour milling industry are needed to interest farmers in growing high-protein wheat. Otherwise, this situation cannot be changed and will only worsen.