29 November 2017, 10:07, Ukraine

Astarta's agrofirm passed the first stage of certification for organic production

The production department of the agri-industrial holding Astarta-Kiev List-Ruchki (Poltava region) is conducting the process of converting to organic farming.

The company's press service informs that on November 23 the first stage of certification for cultivation organic products was carried out in agrofirms. Among the cultivated crops are corn, wheat, buckwheat, oats and soy. The total area amounts to 1.76 thousand hectares.

The project is overseen by the Organic Standard inspectors who identified the main areas of work and set the date for the beginning of the transition period to organic farming. The transition period will last for 3 years. During this time, the company changes the technology of soil cultivation and does not use chemical plant protection products.

As scheduled, as early as in 2020 the company will have the first harvest of organic products and sell it both on the domestic and foreign markets.

The application of organic principles in crop production begins with the technology of soil cultivation, the choice of equipment and seeds. Therefore, in 2018, Astarta planns a purchase of special agricultural machinery, which will be designed exclusively for soil cultivation according to the principles of organic farming.

Reference: Astarta and the European Investment Bank signed a loan agreement for EUR 37 million.