News about Agribusiness
Fans of unique terroir wines will have the opportunity to sample them at the fourth artisanal wine festival, which will take place in Chisinau at the National Museum of Moldovan History from September 4–6.
The European Commission will assess Ukraine’s crop outlook, storage capacity, and export logistics before deciding on additional support for the country’s agricultural sector.
Due to a decline in milk production in Europe following heat waves, the price of milk rose by 1.3% over the past year—to €3,448/metric ton. As a result, mozzarella became more expensive than cheddar. According to Global Dairy Trade, the price of cheddar has fallen by 6.5% over the past 12 months, to an average of €3,138 per metric ton. This is unusual, as the price ratio is typically the opposite. According to Rabobank, the last time a similar situation was observed in the EU was in 2019.
The European Union’s plans to tighten requirements regarding pesticide residue levels in imported agri-food products could lead to a sharp increase in the prices of certain goods. According to estimates by the European Commission’s Joint Research Center (JRC), the most vulnerable product category is coffee. In the worst-case scenario, coffee prices for EU consumers could rise by 332%.
In the media in Ukraine and Moldova, the discount on the base rate for the transit of Ukrainian cargo via the Moldovan railway is presented as 50%. It is quite possible that the actual discount is different.
Moldova exported more than 72,000 metric tons of new-crop barley, worth a total of 262 million lei, in July of this year. This marks a new five-year record. Last month’s barley exports were even higher than in July 2021 (nearly 67,000 metric tons), which is currently considered the most productive harvest of the current decade.
Tonight, Alexandru Slusari, executive director of the “Forța Fermierilor” association, has been invited to a meeting with Prime Minister Vasile Tofan. The organization’s leadership has already expressed regret that “the format of this meeting does not meet the association’s expectations.”
After the 2025 season—when Moldovan beekeepers were unable to harvest any acacia honey at all due to unfavorable weather conditions—they expected high purchase prices for this product starting with the 2026 season. They anticipated prices of no less than 180–200 lei/kg for retail and small-scale wholesale, and in the range of 100–120 lei/kg for large-scale wholesale for export shipments. The reality so far is quite different. The first price offer from export traders for this year’s acacia honey harvest is around 80 lei/kg. Should beekeepers be too upset about this just yet?
The origin of goods should not be a criterion for preferential treatment, including discounts on the base rate or priority in the queue for services provided by the rail carrier. If a Moldovan exporter guarantees the same volume and frequency of cargo shipments, it should be able to benefit from service conditions comparable to those enjoyed by Ukrainian customers of the state-owned enterprise “Moldovan Railways.”
Moldova’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development states that only the tariff for transit rail shipments from Ukraine will be reduced by 50% by the end of 2026. The potential volume of such freight traffic is approximately 600,000 metric tons.
Economist Veaceslav Ioniță believes that a 50 percent reduction in rail freight rates for Ukrainian cargo presents an opportunity to restructure the state-owned enterprise “Moldovan Railways” (CFM).
The “Forța Fermierilor” Association of Grain and Oilseed Producers and Processors is demanding “transparency and comprehensive explanations regarding the transit of agricultural products from Ukraine.”
Young people account for about 52% of the recipients of preferential financing under the “Transforming Rural Areas” (TRTP) project, which is being implemented by the Moldovan government with support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
The Agency for Agricultural Interventions and Payments reminds farmers that August 14 is the deadline for submitting applications for direct payments “for every kilogram of cow’s, sheep’s, and goat’s milk” delivered by dairy farms authorized by ANSA for industrial processing.
Funding Opportunities for the Horticulture and Viticulture Sectors Under the Strategic Agricultural Policy Program for 2026–2030 The leadership of the Agency for Interventions and Payments (AIPA) discussed these opportunities with members of “Moldova Fruct” during an online seminar organized at the initiative of the association.
Extreme heat could cost EU economies approximately 180 billion euros this year—about 1% of GDP. France will be hit the hardest.
The Moldovan government has approved the Strategic Program for the Development of Aquaculture for 2026–2030.
Anticipating the virtually inevitable logistical challenges related to agricultural commodities in the near future, Moldovan traders exported a record amount of wheat in July 2026—151,000 metric tons worth 567 million lei (an average of 3.67 lei per kilogram).
Consumers, retailers, and relevant government agencies will be able to interact within a single digital space. The National Food Safety Agency has announced the launch of the “Consumer Protection” module on the eDemocrație government platform.
The National Food Safety Agency strongly recommends that Moldovan agricultural producers keep strict records of the phytosanitary products they use. This is especially important now, immediately before and during the harvest of fruits and grapes, which will soon be on store shelves and consumers’ tables.
