The Esv Group

World food shortages have already manifested themselves in recent years and more are forecast as a result of increasing global populations and demands for better dietary standards in emerging economies. ESV Group plc is a PLUS Markets-quoted London-based company ( Symbol: ESVO ) involved in the wider agri-businesses sector in Ukraine. Its operating management, including two executive directors, is concentrated in Ukraine. Agricultural exports are a cornerstone of the Ukrainian economy and farming and associated industries provide employment to a fifth of its people. In 2009, latest estimates show that Ukraine will have harvested some 48.5 million tons of grain, exporting some 20 million tons and becoming the world's third largest grain exporter. Since 1998, ESV has specialised in the logistics and marketing of grains and oilseed rape ( OSR or canola ) and linseeds from one of the world's most important agricultural regions. Among the principal grains handled are barley, wheat, wheat bran, corn ( maize ), soyabean and sunflower meal. ESV's activities in the country are focused on its grain handling port operations at Kherson, located in a pivotal position near the mouth of the Dnipro River on the Black Sea. ESV also has an Offtake Agreement with one of Ukraine's most progressive farming groups, located in the Poltava Oblast in the agricultural heartland of the country. Among the products ESV handles in Ukraine are oilseeds destined for the European biofuels market. Until 2009, the Group was also involved in biofuel farming via a jatropha planting business in Mozambique where it established jatropha plantations on its holding of 11, 000 hectares. This business was sold to two leading European biofuel multinational companies in November 2009 for US$4 million. Following the receipt of the proceeds from the successful disposal of its Mozambique interests, the Group intends to develop its core interests as follows: