LONDON, ENGLAND — The Group of Seven (G7) nations, which represents the world’s most economically advanced democracies, is tackling suspected theft of Ukraine’s grain with a plan to use chemical identification of grain origin, Reuters reported, citing Mark Spencer, the United Kingdom’s minister of state for Food, Farming and Fisheries.

Spencer told an International Grains Council (IGC) conference in London that Britain was leading on the project, and that G7 countries also were working closely with Ukraine, among the world’s largest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil. Ukraine has consistently accused Russia of stealing its grain since Russia’s February 2022 invasion. Russia has denied the thefts.

“We believe (chemical identification) will be an effective means for deterring further theft of Ukraine’s grain,” Spencer said.

Britain announced a new wave of sanctions last month on Russia over its war against Ukraine, targeting “shady individuals and entities” connected to the suspected theft of Ukrainian grain. The 86 designations target individuals and organizations connected to Russia’s energy, metals, defense, transport, and financial sectors.

Targeting entities involved in grain trading is unusual as such activity typically comes under humanitarian exemptions from sanctions. Both Russia and Ukraine are major grain exporters to developing countries in Africa and the Middle East.

At the start of the invasion, Russia blocked Ukrainian-controlled ports. Three of Ukraine’s ports have since been reopened under the Black Sea Grain Initiative brokered by Turkey and the United Nations in July 2022. Credited with calming global grain markets and averting a global food crisis, the deal has been extended three times, most recently for 60 days on May 17.