ENHANCING ENTERPRISE COMPETITIVENESS IN THE GLOBAL GRAIN MARKET THROUGH AGROECOLOGICAL COMPLIANCE

Abstract

Introduction. The tightening of sanitary, environmental, and technological requirements in the global grain market increases the importance of product traceability, safety, and verifiability. For Ukrainian agricultural enterprises, these challenges are compounded by war-related risks, logistics disruptions, and rising compliance and control costs.

Purpose. To substantiate the principles of enhancing the competitiveness of Ukrainian enterprises in the global grain market on the basis of agroecological compliance and to identify directions for transforming its characteristics into advantages in market access, contractual reliability, and product price differentiation.

Materials and methods. The methodological framework of the study is based on systemic, competitive, and resource- and competence-based approaches to analysing the factors that enhance enterprise competitiveness in the global grain market through agroecological compliance. The information base comprised scholarly publications by Ukrainian and international researchers, analytical materials of international organisations on the development of the global grain market and sustainable agriculture, official statistical data on grain production and international trade, as well as publicly available reports of agricultural enterprises and industry associations.

Results. The agroecological status of an enterprise is substantiated as a contractual asset. A two-level system of criteria for its assessment is developed: the first level covers batch traceability and laboratory confirmation of safety, while the second includes resource efficiency, nutrient management, risks associated with the use of plant protection products, soil conservation practices, and carbon intensity. An evidence framework is proposed that integrates a digital batch passport, standardised data, laboratory reports, and independent verification.

Conclusions. Agroecological compliance generates competitive advantages provided that it is measurable, traceable, and externally verified. This contributes to reducing non-compliance risks, strengthening contractual reliability, and differentiating grain products in the market.

Prospects. Further research should focus on testing the proposed system of criteria at enterprises of different sizes and assessing its impact on export prices, contractual terms, and the sustainability of market positions.