LUPINE IS A PROMISING LEGUME CROP FOR COMPOUND FEED PRODUCTION
Authors: Vorona N. , Iegorov B. , Makarynska A. 
Published: December 2024

It has been established that food security is an essential component of the overall national security of every country, as it is recognized as a necessary condition and prerequisite for the social and economic stability of the state. Food plays a vital role in human life. Feed production acts as an intermediate link in the production chain, encompassing raw material suppliers (agricultural enterprises, farms), processors (feed mills), and consumers (poultry and livestock complexes). Thus, the feed industry is a key link in providing the population with meat products. Under conditions of war and other market changes, the dynamics of the feed market in Ukraine are undergoing significant transformations. The dynamics of changes in feed production volumes by animal species in Ukraine since 2013 have been presented. It has been established that the leader in feed production is Myronivsky Hliboproduct (MHP), which produces one-third of the total volume. The main global challenges faced by the feed production sector during the fullscale war in Ukraine have been highlighted, including disruptions in logistics for raw material supply, resources, and product distribution; shortages and high costs of energy resources; labor shortages due to mass emigration and employee mobilization; reduction in workforce; and an unstable market. The top 10 agro-industrial companies in Ukraine that earned nearly 90 billion UAH in 2023 (according to the Opentadatabot Index) have been listed. Changes in the production volumes of feed crops in Ukraine from 2019 to 2023 have been presented. According to Forbes, grain production in Ukraine in 2023 decreased by 7.9% compared to 2022. It has been substantiated that the search for new types of protein grain raw materials contributes to the diversification of protein sources and can support the stability of feed production amid full-scale war, changing market conditions, yields, and other factors. Lupin can be an important component in agricultural production systems, as its high protein content can expand protein sources for feed and other products. Regarding the use of lupin in animal feed, its protein contains all essential amino acids, making it appealing for animal nutrition. Most types of lupin are rich in fiber and other beneficial components such as oils, antioxidants, and vitamins. Lupin oil is a valuable product as it contains significant amounts of fat-soluble vitamins and provitamins, such as tocopherols (vitamin E), sterols, and carotenoids. This oil's distinctive feature is its high content of essential linoleic and linolenic acids. Statistics on global and Ukrainian lupin production reflect data only for seed production, with the average global seed yield in 2019 being 11.4 centners per hectare, while in Ukraine, a higher yield of 14.0 centners per hectare was noted. Ukraine does not import lupin seeds but actively exports them. In 2020, lupin exports amounted to 4.2 thousand tons worth $1.4 million, approximately half of Ukraine's production. The main importing countries were the Netherlands and Poland. Ukraine ranks 9th in the world in terms of lupin production.