The Russian offensive against Ukraine has inflicted significant damage on agricultural and cultural landscapes. In areas that have been liberated, initial projects aimed at soil remediation have begun, with Swiss institutions playing a pivotal role. The Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH-HAFL) hosted a workshop in May focused on the "Revitalization of Northeastern Agricultural Lands and Ecosystems in Ukraine". This exchange was coordinated by Dr. Olena Melnyk, a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Environmental Decisions at ETH Zurich.

Starting with Soil Samples The event centered on the Sumy region. Olena Melnyk facilitated the connection with her alma mater, the Sumy National Agrarian University (SNAU). The Sumy Oblast was liberated from Russian occupation on April 8, 2022. A pioneering project for rehabilitating war-damaged agricultural lands encompasses the Sumy, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv Oblasts. These regions were partially occupied by Russia in spring 2022 but were liberated by Ukraine over the past year. The workshop presented an ongoing "Land Remediation" project, a collaboration between SNAU and the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) in the UK. Twenty Ukrainian soil samples were shared with experts from SNAU, RAU, ETH Zurich, BFH-HAFL, and the Soil Competence Center (Kobo) for analysis using various protocols. The next steps involve exchanging results and discussing soil remediation methods.

Enhancing Research Collaboration and Impact SNAU and RAU are currently conducting a joint research project to explore the war's effects, particularly the impact of shells, rockets, and missiles on agricultural landscapes, according to Mark Horton, Director of Research at RAU.

"Multiple soil samples are being analyzed using X-ray diffraction to measure heavy metal and explosive contamination. This will support plans for agricultural land restoration and ensure future food security," Horton explained. The workshop marked the first meeting of the involved institutions to share experiences and plan further collaborative steps. "As BFH has been collaborating with SNAU for about five years and possesses expertise in sustainable agriculture, we discussed how to combine our efforts to spread our ideas and support farmers in Ukraine," said Olena Melnyk, who reported a positive outcome from the meeting.

Significant Implications for Global Food Security Jan Grenz highlighted an important aspect of the Russian offensive that often goes unnoticed in frontline headlines: many of the fiercest battles are taking place in agriculturally advantageous flat areas with a high percentage of chernozem (black earth) farmland.

Olena Melnyk spoke on the global significance of preserving Ukrainian agricultural lands. "Did you know that about 30% of Ukrainian soil, or 17.4 million hectares, are potentially hazardous due to the war? This poses a substantial threat to Ukraine's environment and soil, considering the country is a major global grain producer," Melnyk emphasized. Besides obvious dangers like mined fields and unexploded ordnance, there are also less visible contaminations affecting the soils.

Not Waiting Until the War Is Over Ukraine - and the world - cannot afford to wait until the war is over, according to Olena Melnyk. The foundation for soil restoration must be laid today by collaborating with locals capable of working operatively and agilely.

The first steps include mapping the agricultural lands to document hazards and contaminations and setting priorities for production, remediation, and protection of the lands. "Restoring safe and productive agriculture in Ukraine requires an investment on the scale and magnitude of a Marshall Plan," Melnyk stated.