Supporting the Ukrainian Food System
This article was written with help from staff writer Oksana Bihun. Read about Oksana here.
The War
As you already know, in late February, Russia began an invasion of Ukraine that triggered the onset of an ongoing deadly war. Thousands have died, and millions more have been displaced. Life in Ukraine has been impacted in countless ways, with many of the systems Ukrainians rely on for their daily life damaged or left in disarray as much of the country focuses on survival. Countries like the US have responded to this conflict largely by means of sanctions and military support, offering weapons and intelligence, while a wide array of donors from governments to individuals have offered donations toward humanitarian programs. These programs are mainly working toward aiding displaced people and families by means of food, medical assistance, shelter, and relocation assistance. While this support has been immensely helpful and the collaboration is inspiring, many within Ukraine are still struggling to preserve the systems that allow them to survive and thrive within the country.
Impact on the Ukrainian & Global Food System
All aspects of life in Ukraine have been affected by this war, and the country’s prolific food system has felt the pressure of a war-torn state as much as anything else. For starters, many farmers and food systems workers have good reason to fear for their safety and the safety of others as they try to maintain their farms and operations. In fact, many farmers were seen wearing bulletproof vests and helmets while seeding spring crops. , Those that have chosen to stay are also facing incredible difficulties in procuring resources like fuel, fertilizers, animal feed, and seeds. Many farmers even lack the basics for farming: access to the land and facilities they need, short-term financing required to pay for their inputs, and the workers they need to operate their farms and facilities. And even if farmers are able to overcome these hurdles, there is still uncertainty as to whether harvested crops and other food products will be permitted for export, putting farmers that rely on the global market at major economic risk.
While the focus is rightfully on Ukraine and Ukrainians, it’s important to also remember that their food system is a piece of our global food systems puzzle. Nicknamed the “breadbasket of Europe”, the Ukrainian population of 40 million people produces food for upward of 400 million global citizens. They are prominent producers of grains and oilseeds, standing as the largest exporter of sunflower oil and one of the largest exporters in the global grain market (like wheat, barley, and corn). As the pressure is placed on their food system, the supply of these resources diminishes, and their prices climb proportionally. It’s estimated that the global food supply may lose upward of 500 trillion calories, and prices for certain staple foods could jump as high as 37%. This impact will be felt disproportionately in countries in eastern Europe and northern Africa, as some countries in those regions rely on Ukraine for more than 50% of their grain. As is so often the case, those already struggling with food insecurity will be the first to feel the impacts of crises like this, and thus, these supply shortages and price jumps will exacerbate conditions for those most vulnerable inside and outside the country.
What We’re Doing
Since the start of the war, we’ve been working with Staff Writer Oksana to bring some much needed support to a small family farm in Ukraine. Molode Steblo, roughly translated into “young stem”, is a small microgreen farm based in Western Ukraine. The war has completely cut off their seed supply, meaning they are unable to continue their regular growing operations. We were fortunate enough to connect with them through Oksana, whose family visited their farm stand in Lviv, Ukraine some time ago.
Working at a farm herself, Oksana has been able to source and ship bags of seeds over to the farm, helping to close the gaps in their production. So far, the seeds have included broccoli, peas, radish, mustard, scallions, kohlrabi, and cabbage. Having access to seeds allows them to continue building their livelihood in a time of extreme chaos; but equally important, it helps stabilize the local food system that has been disrupted. Bringing fresh, healthy, and sustainably grown food to local residents is what many urban farms aim to do, but Molode Steblo is able to maintain this goal even during a time of war.
Recently, the growers at Molode Steblo have been able to find some replacements for sourcing their seeds; however, there are still major gaps that are unlikely to be filled anytime soon. Alongside Oksana, we are committed to supporting local food systems and are continuing to raise funds to purchase seeds to send to Ukraine. If you’d wish to make a donation to our Seed Fund, you are welcome to do so via Paypal, or venmo @UkraineSeedFund.
Other Ways to Support
There are an incredible amount of organizations and individuals who are continuing to provide support to Ukraine and its citizens. Outlined below are different resources to donate to, volunteer with, and learn more about the ongoing issues resulting from the war.
Fundraising for Humanitarian Aid:
Razom: Razom is providing critical humanitarian war relief and recovery, evacuating vulnerable populations, and advocating for Ukraine by educating about policies that strengthen and support Ukraine.
Nova Ukraine: Nova Ukraine works to provide humanitarian aid to vulnerable groups and individuals in Ukraine and to raise awareness about Ukraine in the US and throughout the world.
Sunflower of Peace Foundation: This foundation works to support the people of Ukraine affected by the Russian military invasion. They collaborate with a global network of established organizations and institutions that are committed to helping Ukraine.
Fundraising for Marginalized Populations:
Gender Z: Fundraising to support LGBTQ+ persons in Ukraine during this time of turmoil.
Fight for Right: Supporting Ukrainians with disabilities in times of crisis. They are working around the clock to evacuate Ukrainians with disabilities and support those who have evacuated to nearby countries.
Global Black Coalition: This coalition is ensuring that members of the Black community are able to evacuate from Ukraine and find appropriate shelter once they cross the border.
Fundraising for the Food System
World Central Kitchen: WCK works to quickly mobilize and provide meals to people affected by humanitarian, climate, and community crises.
Social Media Accounts to Follow:
The Kyiv Independent: an independent, English-language news source in Ukraine.
Lvivski Lytsar: an on the ground volunteer group helping to get much needed supplies to Ukrainian soldiers.
Illia Ponomarenko: a defense reporter with the Kyiv Independent who provides real-time information and photos from the front lines.
Hromadske Int.: an independent Ukrainian media source.