THE BIOENERGY CROPS MARKET IN UKRAINE: TRENDS OF DEVELOPMENT AND SPATIAL DIFFERENTIATION

In this article analyzes the development of trends of bioenergy crops market development in Ukraine and its current state are analysed. The possibility and feasibility of synergy of mutual development of bioenergy crops market and bio-oil market in Ukraine were noted. The necessity of state support and stimulation of bioenergy crops and different types of biofuels production in Ukraine was stated. A positive trend of growth of planted areas and production of rapeseed in Ukraine was revealed. During the study period (2013–2019) the production of rapeseed was increased by 1.4 times. The greatest energy potential for the production of bioethanol is in the sugar beet subcomplex of the agricultural sector. Over the past few years, the production of sugar beet was at its highest in 2014 (15.7 million tonnes), while the following years saw a decrease in cultivated areas of sugar beet and, consequently, a drop in its gross output — to 8.3 million tonnes in 2020. Significant resource potential for the production of bioethanol also have cereal crops (wheat, rye, barley, maize), the area under which during the last ten years remains relatively stable (14.4–15.3 million ha). Among grain crops the most effective raw material for the production of bioethanol is maize. A positive tendency of biennial growth of planted area under this crop is revealed. The space differentiation of resource base of bioenergy in Ukraine is prominent. The cluster analysis revealed three groups of areas based on the similarity of the energy resources for bioenergy purposes. Two clusters including Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, Zhytomyr and Chernihiv, Vinnytsia, Cherkasy, Sumy, Kirovograd, Poltava and Kyiv regions should be considered as the most promising areas for concentration of capacities in biofuel production. It is noted that the trajectory of development bioenergetic sector of the country is always conditioned by compromise between compliance with optimal levels of its energy and food security.