Food security in Ukraine and throughout the world has been severely impacted by Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country. Approximately 6.5 million acres of Ukraine’s agriculture have been negatively harmed by Russia’s aggression, and more than one-third of the nation is thought to be polluted with landmines and other explosive risks, the Ministry of Economy in Ukraine has said.
With more than 100 million acres of arable land and 25–30 percent of the world’s stocks of black soil, Ukraine is among the most fertile regions in the world, according to the U.S. International Trade Administration.
According to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), 400 million people globally depend on Ukraine for their food. Due to Russia’s unjustified, full-scale invasion of Ukraine, there are now unprecedented hurdles globally as well as disruptions to global supply networks, exports, and manufacturing prices.
For this purpose, since 2022, the U.S. has launched various initiatives to help demine Ukraine’s territory and has contributed $182 million to support these actions.
“U.S. partners assist local communities, villages, and farmers by investing in machines and new technologies that clear vast tracts of land safely and efficiently, transforming minefields back to farmers’ fields. Once agricultural land is surveyed, cleared, and safe for use, farmers can return to sowing the fields, harvesting crops, and exporting goods,” the State Department said in a press release.