Source: https://www.rau.ac.uk/about-rau/news-and-events/events/university-researchers-help-battle-bomb-damage-ukraine Photo by Olena Melnyk, ETH

Zürich ETH, UK RAU, and Ukrainian SNAU Partner to Restore War-Damaged Farmlands

Thursday 14th of December 2023

In the midst of the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, not only does the immediate humanitarian crisis caused by the deployment of weaponry demand attention, but so does the enduring environmental threat posed by the contamination of Ukrainian agricultural lands. The heavy metals from Russian munitions are seeping into the soil, potentially jeopardizing human health well beyond the conclusion of hostilities.

In response to this pressing issue, a collaborative effort between British and Ukrainian scholars at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) in the UK is underway. This initiative focuses on detecting pollution levels in agricultural lands and soils, and devising strategies to mitigate these environmental threats.

On Thursday, December 14, 2023, at 09.00 PST, the team plans to unveil their findings and seek additional collaboration and funding during the "Environmental impacts of armored conflict" session at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) annual meeting in San Francisco.

Professor Nicola Cannon, a leading figure in Agriculture at the RAU, emphasized the importance of understanding soil contamination to prevent its spread, which could severely impact future agricultural productivity and food safety. The objective is to scrutinize bomb craters across Ukraine for contaminants, especially heavy metals, to prevent them from entering the food chain and harming human health.

Since Russia's invasion in March 2022, RAU has been closely working with Sumy National Agricultural University (SNAU) in Ukraine. Associate Professor Olena Melnyk, now with ETH Zurich in Switzerland, spearheads this project. A method for assessing the craters was crafted by RAU personnel and honed with Ukrainian partners on Salisbury Plain. These soil samples are analyzed using advanced equipment at RAU's Cirencester campus.

Olena expressed gratitude for the widespread support that has enabled them to conduct a month-long training program in Ukraine. This initiative aims to equip trainers with the necessary skills to assess bomb craters and analyze soil. The goal is to examine all craters to prevent further environmental harm and to map out Ukraine's contaminated farmlands to formulate a recovery and enhancement plan for Ukrainian agriculture.

Ground efforts in Ukraine have already led to the preliminary evaluation of 28 craters in areas previously under occupation in the north and northeast, uncovering high levels of heavy metals like lead, copper, nickel, and antimony.

Nicola pointed out the resilience of Ukrainian farmers who continue to produce food despite the ongoing war. These farmers urgently require assistance to identify which parts of their land are safe for cultivation. This early intervention is critical to sustain food production and ensure the well-being of the Ukrainian population during and after the conflict.