Ukraine's agricultural product processing sector is underutilized, with only 5% of gross added value from food, beverages, and tobacco production, according to Yuriy Lupenko, Vice President of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine. The sector is primarily driven by the production of oil and animal fats, meat and meat products, and beverages, with other products contributing only 4-9% to the value. Lupenko emphasized the need to expand the processing sector and increase the volume of agri-food production to increase the share of high-value added products. The potential for this is demonstrated by the high processing rates of sunflower seeds, meat, milk, buckwheat, and soybeans.