Growing Through War

Translated from Ukrainian.

On February 24, 2022, the world changed forever as Russia commenced a full-scale invasion, threatening the sovereignty, freedom, and future of the Ukrainian nation. Every day, Ukrainians face new losses and challenges caused by continuous attacks. Yet, as the ground shakes with each hit, Ukrainian farmers stand strong, miraculously persevering through what many of us would hopefully never experience.

I spoke with Yevgen Mykhaylichenko , a professor, instructor, and devoted volunteer who frequently travels between Canada and Ukraine, establishing crucial relationships and delivering donations directly to the frontline.?

The full-scale invasion in numbers

The effects of the Russian tyrannous invasion were and are beyond devastating. It started in 2014, with the unlawful occupation of Crimea and the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Lugansk—out-of-proportion hits to Ukrainian export and energy resource production.?

Then, in 2022, Ukraine was submerged into an even deeper shock state, with infrastructure losses currently estimated at USD 441 billion. This included long-term damage to Ukraine’s key economic contributor, agriculture.

In the twenty years preceding the conflict, Ukraine became a significant global provider of grains and vegetable oil. Grain exports increased by over five times, elevating the country's share of global grain trade from around 5% to 12%-14%. The majority of agricultural exports (approximately 93%) were shipped to destinations in the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe via sea routes. Ukraine was also the largest exporter of sunflower oil and seed globally.

Just in the first year, damages and losses for agricultural enterprises amounted to USD 3.85 billion, with crop losses at USD 2.71 billion and livestock losses around USD 1.13 billion, averaging USD 147,000 per enterprise.

Transportation

According to Yevgen, one of the most striking effects of the full-scale invasion on Ukrainian agriculture is blocked borders for both land and sea import and export.

“With the borders partially or completely blocked, farmers no longer receive the necessary micro and macro elements they would typically use as fungicides, herbicides, or fertilizers. This significantly reduces productivity and urges growers to involuntarily transition to organic practices. Now, in Canada, organic produce is considered higher-value and tends to cost more. However, it rarely matters in Ukraine, as the distinction is not yet pronounced. It merely means farmers cannot count on the harvest they saw before the war and have to reduce prices to speed up the sale,” Yevgen said.

With Russia occupying Crimea, the Black Sea, the traditional outlet for Ukrainian exports, was out of the question. Committed to devastating Ukraine’s economy, Russia did not allow grain carriers to leave the shore and deliberately attacked the ships that did manage to get out. This caused a global shift in food security, as Ukrainian wheat and corn were no longer available, driving prices and lack of availability way beyond Europe.?

From July 2022 to July 2023, an agreement was in place between the United Nations, Turkey, and Russia, establishing a secure maritime humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative, facilitating exports. But although the agreement temporarily relieved the pressure on the global food stage, it was short-lived, and the new one has not yet been outlined.??

The effects on land and people

In February 2023, 12% of Ukrainian agricultural enterprises reported land potentially contaminated by unexploded ordnances, with front-line regions most affected at 32%.

Apart from its immediate effects on agriculture, the war is wreaking havoc on the environment, adversely affecting soil and water quality, with long-term implications for agricultural advancement.?

The Ecoaction Centre for Environmental Initiatives, a Ukrainian environmental NGO, highlights that aerial bombings, artillery shelling, mined areas, destroyed military equipment, oil spills, fire damage, and landslides are key indicators of substantial soil pollution, carrying profound socio-economic repercussions at both local and national levels.

Yevgen additionally noted the lack of workers on farms and even larger agribusinesses caused by the full-scale invasion. With many people gone and lost at war, those who come back will require equipment adjustments and rehabilitation procedures to accommodate their injuries.?

“We need an action algorithm in place for people who come back from war to return to the agriculture sector. It won’t be a quick process and will involve all areas of influence, such as education, law, and even national mentality. But we must do it to realize Ukraine’s potential to be a major player in the global food scene. Because we are not a metallurgic country, like many might think, we are agrarians,” Yevgen said.

The tech edge?

Travelling across the frontline and meeting with agro professionals and businesses nationwide, Yevgen gets to observe, adopt, and contribute to technologies he later introduces to his Smart Farm colleagues at Olds College.?

One of his fairly recent passions is remotely operated drones that can automate and simplify farmer tasks such as scouting, irrigation, spraying, and more.

“The technology is more or less the same everywhere. But in Ukraine, farmers get to exercise it to its full potential as there aren’t many regulations in place yet, compared to Canada, for example. There are also a few really great companies creating new technology. I recently met with Agro Copter, a team from Vinnytsa, Ukraine, who build and service agro drones. They also teach farmers to fly them,” said Yevgen.

At the same time, Yevgen admits there is a large gap between the existing technology and what most farmers and agriculture students use.?

“I’ve been to many colleges and universities, and the students there use the 60s and 70s machinery to learn. On top of that, while the campuses are usually in the middle of downtown areas, fieldwork can be a couple of hours' drive away. This contributes to a disconnect between the theory and the actual hands-on experience. Whereas here at Olds College, students get to implement their knowledge almost right outside the classroom and do it using pretty sophisticated tech,” Yevgen said.?

Ukrainian-Canadian cooperation

To bridge the gap between Ukrainian and Canadian approaches to agriculture education, Yevgen is working on a knowledge exchange program that would benefit both sides. He plans to bring young Ukrainian ag education professionals to learn from their Canadian colleagues.?

Yevgen believes that by working on the land, sharing experiences, and understanding Western mentality, Ukrainian educators will be able to finally part with the unfortunately inherited Soviet mindset and guide the new generation in the right direction.?

“There’s a lot of knowledge and skills to share, and Canada and Ukraine are perfect candidates for this initiative. The Ukrainian diaspora in Canada is the second largest in the world. And nearly 200,000 people have joined it since the war started. Since many Canadian farmers have Ukrainian roots, we might already have the necessary groundwork for effective cooperation,” said Yevgen.

Yevgen then concludes our conversation with a powerful statement: “My goal is to build an educational bridge between Ukraine and Canada. I want my project to work and will do everything in my power to make it happen. I already prepared the materials and have met and will continue to meet with whoever is necessary to secure financing for this program. Of course, a lot depends on the circumstances. But we will fight for victory in all and every aspect.”?

Slava Ukraini!

By Daryna Putintseva