 
The United Kingdom, Ukraine and Latvia have agreed to strengthen international efforts to identify and prevent the sale of grain allegedly stolen from Ukrainian territories occupied by
Russia, expanding a scientific verification scheme to another Baltic state.
The three countries signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 26 October, extending the Grain Verification Scheme and broadening cooperation to help identify agricultural products taken from occupied Ukrainian land and potentially sold on international markets.
The initiative builds on the UK’s long-term partnership with Ukraine and aims to make it more difficult for those involved in the trade of stolen grain to profit from the proceeds. Latvia’s inclusion expands the network of countries participating in the scheme, which was initially established through cooperation between Ukraine and Lithuania.
The agreement comes as Ukraine seeks greater support from its European partners around the Baltic Sea to prevent grain of Russian origin from passing through regional ports. Russia’s invasion has severely disrupted Ukraine’s traditional Black Sea export routes, adding to concerns over the movement and origin of agricultural commodities.
Baroness Hayman of Ullock, the UK minister responsible for the agreement, signed the memorandum alongside representatives from Ukraine and Latvia. The arrangement extends the initiative beyond its original participants, Ukraine and Lithuania, which signed the first memorandum in January 2025.
Baroness Hayman said the UK remained firmly committed to supporting Ukraine against Russia’s invasion. She added that Latvia’s participation would strengthen efforts to identify stolen agricultural produce and help safeguard the integrity of international food markets.
Scientific technology to establish grain origins
The Grain Verification Scheme was developed by the UK on behalf of the G7 after Ukraine requested international assistance in tracing grain removed from territories under Russian occupation and subsequently offered for sale abroad.
The system combines laboratory testing with machine-learning techniques to assess where grain is likely to have originated. Specialists analyse physical samples using established scientific methods, including stable isotope ratio analysis and trace element analysis, to establish a distinctive chemical profile for each sample.
These profiles are then compared with a reference database containing almost 3,400 geographically identified locations across Ukraine and neighbouring countries. The comparison enables analysts to estimate the probable origin of a consignment and identify grain whose declared provenance may warrant further investigation.
Although the technology provides an important tool for tracing agricultural commodities, its findings help assess likely origin rather than automatically establishing that a particular shipment was stolen. Additional evidence and appropriate investigative procedures may be needed to determine the circumstances surrounding individual consignments.
Baltic cooperation strengthens enforcement
The scheme was transferred to Ukraine and Lithuania in March 2025. Since then, Lithuania has developed a legal framework for collecting and testing relevant grain shipments, with national authorities undertaking the sampling and analysis process.
Latvia’s participation is expected to broaden regional cooperation and increase the capacity of authorities to examine the origins of grain moving through Baltic trade routes. The UK will continue working with both Ukraine and Latvia on the scheme’s further development and practical application.
The expansion represents another step in efforts to address the economic consequences of Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian territory. By improving the ability to trace agricultural products across borders, the participating countries aim to make international supply chains more transparent and reduce opportunities for stolen Ukrainian grain to enter legitimate commercial markets. Photo by Dobrych, Wikimedia commons.
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