Ukraine, UK, and Lithuania Launch Tracing System to Combat Stolen Grain

During the Berlin Conference of Agriculture Ministers, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Lithuania signed an updated memorandum to launch the Grain Verification Scheme (GVS).

The initiative, announced by Ukrainian Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Vitalii Koval on January 20, aims to combat the illegal transportation of Ukrainian grain from territories occupied by Russia.

Koval emphasized that the memorandum represents a foundational step in implementing a long-term strategic agreement between Ukraine and the UK, designed to shape cooperation for the next century.

The pilot implementation of GVS will take place in Lithuania, where the port of Klaipėda will serve as a central hub for verifying the origins of Ukrainian agricultural products. According to Koval, the system is expected to identify stolen grain and prevent its unlawful movement.

The agreement also includes leveraging advanced UK database technologies. These tools will enable precise identification of grain origins, safeguarding Ukrainian farmers' interests and ensuring transparency in the agricultural market.

“This collaboration between Ukraine, the UK, and Lithuania establishes new standards of security and equity in the agricultural sector, which will influence global food security,” Koval noted.

Earlier, Russia and its allies sold nearly $1 billion worth of stolen Ukrainian grain in 2022. Ukrainian officials reported that over 4 million tons of grain were seized or purchased under coercion in occupied territories, with sales involving entities linked to the Russian government, Iran, Syria, and the UAE.