Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture and the Ukrainian Federation of Food Banks have signed a memorandum of cooperation to develop a food banking system in Ukraine, ProAgro Group reports.

According to the ministry, the system will allow edible food products to be redistributed to people in need instead of being disposed of.

It is estimated that around 2.7 million tonnes of food products are discarded in Ukraine every year, a significant portion of which remains suitable for consumption. At the same time, about 12.7 million Ukrainians require humanitarian assistance, while more than 4.5 million people are officially registered as internally displaced persons.

“For us, this decision is primarily about people and about a rational approach to resources and strengthening food security. Edible food should not be destroyed but delivered to those who truly need support,” said Deputy Minister Taras Vysotskyi.

He emphasized that modern food security systems rely on cooperation between the state, businesses, and civil society to reduce food losses and support vulnerable populations.

One of the key areas of cooperation will be preparing legislative changes necessary to launch the food banking system in Ukraine. These include establishing clear rules for food redistribution, introducing tax incentives for food donations, and reducing the disposal of edible products.

Earlier it was reported that winter crops planted for this year’s harvest are expected to exceed 5 million hectares, including 4.8 million hectares of winter wheat, which remains sufficient to ensure Ukraine’s food security and export potential.