Ukraine's European integration is no longer a question of "whether it is needed," but rather how quickly and effectively it can be delivered - and what needs to be done to make it happen. Despite the war, Ukraine's agricultural sector remains a pillar of the national economy and, at the same time, an integral part of Europe's food infrastructure. Ukrainian agricultural exports not only help the EU meet domestic demand, but also strengthen the position of European countries in global markets as food exporters.
This was stated by Yevgen Osypov, CEO of Kernel, on 21 January during the panel discussion "Deepening Cooperation Between Ukraine and the EU in Strategic Sectors", held at Ukraine House Davos as part of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Commenting on one of the key questions in the context of agricultural European integration - whether Ukraine poses a threat to European farmers - the CEO of Kernel emphasized that there are no grounds for such concerns.
"Our goal is not to absorb or push anyone out, but to create rules for joint development. We see integration into the EU as a partnership that enables European farmers to grow. Kernel already has a proven example of such a model - the Open Agribusiness ecosystem, which brings together more than 6,000 agricultural producers cultivating around 50% of Ukraine's agricultural land. They are our partners and suppliers. They gain access to logistics and exports to over 60 countries, modern agri-technologies, digital management tools, as well as sustainable farming and ESG practices. This is an effective integration programme aligned with the European approach," Osypov said.
The panel discussion focused on the practical dimension of Ukraine's European integration - through the economy, strategic sectors, and real supply chains operating under wartime conditions. As one of the largest companies in Ukraine's agri-industrial sector, Kernel represented the voice of Ukrainian business, presenting its position on the integration process and Ukraine's future role in the European market.
Summing up the discussion, Yevgen Osypov noted that Ukraine's integration does not replace Europe - it reinforces it. A strong Ukraine within the shared economic space means more resilient supply chains, a faster energy transition, greater market stability, and a stronger joint response to global challenges.
The panel also featured Taras Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine; Matteo Patrone, Vice President, Banking, EBRD; and Mikael Björkner, Group CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of PrivatBank. The discussion was moderated by Orysia Lutsevych, Head of the Ukraine Forum at Chatham House.
For reference, the World Economic Forum in Davos is one of the leading global platforms where heads of state and government, business leaders, and financial institutions meet annually to discuss major economic and security challenges and shape solutions that influence the future of countries and markets. This year's Forum is held under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue", bringing together more than 3,000 participants from over 130 countries worldwide.