'Cui Bono' Over Ukraine: Monsanto Setting Up GMO Seed Corn Business in Ukraine

1 May 2014

 - Now everything from an unstable currency to tight credit threatens the spring planting season, and the uncertain outlook for the Ukrainian economy is a longer-term threat to the prediction by some of the biggest agricultural companies that a future Ukrainian corn belt will rival the U.S. market.

Ukraine and, to a wider extent, Eastern Europe, are among the “most promising growth markets for farm-equipment giant Deere, as well as seed producers Monsanto and DuPont”, said Michael Cox, senior analyst and research director at Piper Jaffray. Ukraine’s growth is becoming even more important, as it will “serve to counterbalance the South American farm markets, where overseas growth has been increasing in places like Argentina and Brazil for these companies.”