Ministry of Agrarian Policy Launches New eAgriculture Service for Transparency in the Agricultural Sector

In accordance with Ukrainian legislation, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food (Minagro) has announced the launch of the new “eAgriculture” service, aimed at ensuring electronic management in the fields of seed production, horticulture, and plant variety protection. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has adopted a resolution establishing the creation and operation of an electronic registry system for plant production.

International Commitments and European Integration

This initiative is part of Ukraine’s efforts to fulfill its international legal obligations within the framework of European integration. According to the resolution, the new service is designed to enhance transparency and efficiency in the regulation of seed production, horticulture, and intellectual property rights for plant varieties.

The eAgriculture System

The main goal of the “eAgriculture” system is to create an electronic database to regulate activities in plant production. The system includes several important interconnected registries that will facilitate access to information and monitoring in seed production and horticulture:

• Application Registry — for registering new plant variety applications;
• State Register of Plant Varieties suitable for distribution in Ukraine;
• State Register of Patents for Plant Varieties;
• Registry of Representatives for Intellectual Property Rights for Plant Varieties.

Legal Framework and Implementation

This draft resolution was developed to implement item 9 of the 2023 Action Plan, which aims to transition public services in the agricultural policy sector to electronic formats. The transition is part of a broader effort outlined in the Cabinet of Ministers’ resolution from December 23, 2022, to digitalize Ukraine’s public services and improve the efficiency of the agricultural sector.

Structure of the Electronic System

The “eAgriculture” system has several components, including not only plant variety registration but also other important aspects of seed production and horticulture regulation. In addition to the plant variety database, the system will register entities involved in seed production and certification, as well as maintain registries for auditors, seed certificates, and conformity assessment bodies.

Supporting the Functionality of the Seed and Nursery System

Under parts one and two of Article 12 of the Law of Ukraine “On Seeds and Planting Material,” the seed and nursery system in Ukraine must operate at a high standard. To achieve this, the central executive authority responsible for the formation and implementation of state agricultural policy will maintain the following registries in electronic form:

• Registry of Seed and Nursery Entities;
• Registry of Certification Auditors (Agronomist Inspectors);
• Registry of Seed and/or Planting Material Certificates;
• Registry of Conformity Assessment Bodies.

Prospects for the Development and Implementation of eAgriculture

With the launch of this service, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food expects a significant improvement in the management processes within the fields of seed production and horticulture. The implementation of the electronic system is also an important step toward increasing the competitiveness of Ukrainian agricultural producers in international markets, as it will improve quality control over seeds and planting material and protect intellectual property rights for new plant varieties.

This new service is an important phase in the modernization of Ukraine’s agricultural sector and its integration into global trade systems that meet modern standards.