Ukraine expands crop production despite ongoing war – Brownfield Ag News

Report on Ukrainian Agricultural Resilience and its Impact on Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

This report analyzes the state of Ukrainian agriculture amidst ongoing conflict, focusing on its resilience and contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Despite wartime risks, Ukraine’s agricultural sector is demonstrating a capacity for recovery and expansion, which is critical for global food security (SDG 2: Zero Hunger) and national economic stability (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth). However, significant challenges related to production sustainability (SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production) persist.

Analysis of 2025 Crop Production Expansion

According to agricultural economist Antonina Broyaka of Kansas State University, Ukraine has expanded its crop cultivation area. This development signifies a crucial step in revitalizing a sector essential for both domestic and global food supplies.

1. Land Reclamation: Approximately 460,000 hectares of land have been returned to cultivation.
2. Increased Planting: The total area planted with grain and legume crops increased by nearly 7 percent for 2025.
3. Crop-Specific Adjustments:
   • Wheat acreage increased by 7 percent.
   • Corn acreage increased by 12 percent.
   • Soybean acreage decreased by 23 percent.
4. Total Production: The total production for all crops in 2025 is 73 million metric tons.

Contributions to SDG 2: Zero Hunger

Ukraine’s agricultural output is a cornerstone of global food security. The sector’s demonstrated resilience and the expansion of production directly support the objectives of SDG 2 by helping to stabilize global food supplies. The continued cultivation and export of key grains like wheat and corn are vital for preventing food shortages and price volatility in international markets, thereby contributing to the goal of ending hunger and ensuring access to food for all.

Challenges to Sustainable Production and Development

While the expansion in acreage is a positive indicator, the sector faces significant hurdles that threaten long-term sustainability and progress towards the SDGs.

• Declining Yields: Yields for all crops have declined, undermining the potential gains from expanded acreage. This directly impacts the efficiency of production, a key component of SDG 12.
• Environmental Stressors: Ongoing drought conditions are a primary cause of lower yields, highlighting the vulnerability of the agricultural system to climate-related shocks.
• Input Shortages: Decreases in fertilizer applications, a consequence of wartime disruption, are further depressing crop yields and impacting soil health, which challenges the principles of sustainable agriculture.

Economic Resilience in the Context of SDG 8 and SDG 16

The persistence of agricultural activity provides a critical economic lifeline, supporting livelihoods and contributing to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). By maintaining a leading position in global agricultural production, Ukraine strives to sustain its economy under the severe duress of conflict. This effort occurs within the context of the war, which fundamentally undermines SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). The resilience of farmers and the agricultural sector is therefore a testament to their commitment to maintaining societal and economic functions in the face of profound instability.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • The article directly addresses global food security, a core component of SDG 2. It highlights Ukraine’s role as a major agricultural producer and how its crop production, despite the war, is crucial for the world’s food supply. The focus on grain, legumes, wheat, and corn production underscores the goal of ending hunger and ensuring access to food.

2. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • The article mentions that “some land was returned to cultivation, approximability 460,000 hectares.” This directly relates to SDG 15, which includes targets on restoring degraded land and ensuring the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. Bringing agricultural land back into production is a form of land restoration.

3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • The entire context of the article is the “on-going war with Russia.” This connects to SDG 16, which aims to promote peaceful societies. The article illustrates how conflict directly impacts essential sectors like agriculture, threatening food security and economic stability, thereby highlighting the devastating consequences of the absence of peace.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round. The article connects to this by emphasizing Ukraine’s importance for “global food security” and its position as a leading agricultural producer, whose exports are vital for the global food supply.
   • Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality. The article highlights the “resilience” of Ukraine’s agriculture sector. However, it also points to challenges like “on-going drought” and “decreases in fertilizer applications” that affect yields, which are central concerns of this target.

2. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world. The statement that “460,000 hectares” of land were “returned to cultivation” directly relates to the restoration of land, making it productive again after being impacted by the conflict.

3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. The article operates under the premise of an “on-going war,” which is a direct failure to meet this target. The photo of an unexploded missile in a pasture is a stark illustration of the violence impacting civilian life and economic activities like farming.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)

   • Area of land under cultivation: The article provides specific data points: “planted almost 7 percent more grain and legumes crops,” “wheat acres increased by 7 percent,” and “corn acres 12 percent.” These are direct indicators of agricultural activity.
   • Total agricultural production: The article states, “The total production for all crops in 2025 is 73 million metric tons,” which is a key indicator of food availability.
   • Agricultural yield: The article mentions that “yields for all crops have declined,” which is a crucial indicator for measuring agricultural productivity (Target 2.4).
   • Use of agricultural inputs: The mention of “decreases in fertilizer applications” is an indicator related to agricultural practices and sustainability.

2. Indicators for SDG 15 (Life on Land)

   • Area of restored land: The article explicitly states that “460,000 hectares” of land were returned to cultivation. This figure serves as a direct indicator for Target 15.3, measuring the proportion of land that is being restored.

3. Indicators for SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

   • Presence of armed conflict: The article’s entire premise is the “on-going war.” The photo of an “unexploded missile by cow pasture” serves as a qualitative indicator of the extent to which conflict and violence are affecting civilian areas and infrastructure, which is relevant to Target 16.1.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: brownfieldagnews.com