Ukraine to NATO: It is necessary to create a threat-resistant agricultural supply system

Russia’s full-scale invasion has had a significant impact on food security and the operations of Ukraine’s agricultural sector. In particular, the logistics chains of agricultural exports to world markets have been affected.

Therefore, it is necessary to create a threat-resistant agricultural supply system to ensure food security for Ukraine and the world. This was emphasized by Taras Vysotskyi, First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, in his speech at a meeting of the NATO Food and Agriculture Planning Committee.

According to him, even now, after the reopening of some Ukrainian seaports, farmers still have limited opportunities to export their products. Although the situation with the supply of agricultural products to the EU and other countries has improved over the past two years.

“Thanks to the opening of the Ukrainian sea corridor, 85% of agricultural products are exported by water. The rest is exported by rail and a small amount by road. However, it is very important to maintain all possible export routes, as even a week’s delay has a critical impact on the state of the agricultural sector and the country’s food security. Therefore, Ukrainian agrarians need support to continue to ensure the food security of the world,” the press service of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy quoted Taras Vysotskyi as saying.

In addition, the First Deputy Minister noted that a number of other factors affect the activities of agricultural producers. In particular, the partial or complete destruction of farms, food production facilities and critical infrastructure. There is also contamination of agricultural land with heavy metals and mining, temporary occupation of some territories, and the destruction of the irrigation system in the southern regions due to the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station.

The ministry noted that Taras Vysotsky is the second representative of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine since 2006 to inform NATO about the state of the Ukrainian agricultural sector. The alliance’s leadership is grateful for the information on the food security situation and expressed hope for more frequent involvement of Ukrainian representatives in NATO working groups.

Tags: Ukraine, export, food security, war