Agriculture is one of those sectors that has a significant impact on the environment and, at the same time, depends on its condition. Before the full-scale invasion, almost 60% of Ukraine’s territory was arable land, which agricultural producers intensively cultivated. Due to widespread unsustainable farming practices, such as intensive monoculture crop production and disregard for crop rotation, ploughing of slopes and water protection zones, and the ineffective use of fertilisers and pesticides, soils lose their fertility, water resources are polluted with nitrates and other hazardous compounds, and the overall state of the environment deteriorates.
Livestock farming can also be very harmful to the environment and local communities. Although the number of livestock is gradually decreasing according to statistics, in industries such as pig and poultry farming, where intensive methods of animal husbandry are being adopted, the number of livestock has increased, especially in poultry farms. At the local level, communities, more than anyone else, feel the negative impact of livestock farms. Problems often arise due to improper management of animal by-products, in particular manure, which is a significant source of nitrate pollution of water.
Due to the full-scale invasion of russia, Ukraine’s soil and environment in general have been further negatively affected by chemical, mechanical and physical pollution. Read more The impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine on the state of country’s soil: Analysis results – Ecoaction
To reduce the impact of the agricultural sector on the environment, the Ecoaction team focuses on the transition of agriculture to environmentally friendly practices in the process of Ukraine’s accession to the EU, which will help both improve the environment and quality of life in rural communities and adapt to climate change:
We also collect data on land investments and research the issue of land concentration on one hand (Land Matrix Initiative) in Ukraine and the Eastern Europe region to ensure small farmers’ access to land.
Ecoaction has launched a Facebook group “European responsible farming”, where we share news, updates and interesting events concerning sustainable agriculture practices. Join us!
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# Land Matrix Initiative

We monitor cases of land concentration and investigate the impact of this on the environment and community!

The Land Matrix is an independent global land monitoring initiative that promotes transparency and accountability in evidence-based decisions over large-scale land acquisitions (LSLAs) in low- and middle-income countries across the world.

The initiative originated in 2009 and was finally formed in 2012. At that time, several institutions from Switzerland, Germany, Italy, and South Africa joined together.

The purpose of the Land Matrix initiative is to collect information on large-scale (200 hectares and more) land acquisitions, leases or concessions for agriculture, forestry, renewable energy, mining, construction of tourist complexes, or other activities. This data can be the basis for managerial decisions in the field of land management or economic and social research on investments in agribusiness, including the phenomenon of land concentration.

NGO Ecoaction is a partner of Land Matrix in Eastern Europe. In the structure of the Initiative, we are a kind of branch called the Eastern Europe Regional Focal Point. In addition to ours, there are also such hubs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

By Eastern Europe, we mean not only its classical geographical definition, but also, to some extent, its historical one. Ecoaction’s area of responsibility includes Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus, the Russian Federation and Lithuania, the countries of the Balkan Peninsula — Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Romania, as well as some countries of Central Asia — Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Land concentration can be damaging to the environment, primarily through the destruction of biodiversity. Companies are more often driven by market needs than by what the soil and the environment in general need. In addition, this phenomenon also causes social risks, such as migration, lack of access to land, and ultimately poverty and hunger. It often happens that in the process of obtaining control over land, the rights of certain groups of people are violated. Farmers are usually the ones who are affected.

Therefore, the collection of information helps to identify certain trends and risks and, accordingly, to try to minimize them in the future during investments in land.

The information in the database is sourced from open sources and is fully publicly available on the website.

If you are interested in this topic and would like to contribute to the collection/updating process or have an idea related to the topic of land concentration, its impact and ways to minimize risks, please contact us at info@ecoact.org.ua

 

# Nitrates Directive

Ecoaction team works systematically to reduce nitrate water pollution from unsustainable farming practices.

We started working in this area in close cooperation with communities affected by the negative impact of industrial livestock farms. One of the key environmental threats is the irrational management of livestock by-products, especially manure. In communities with a high density of livestock, this issue is particularly acute, as it puts a strain on the environment, especially water, air, and soil.

One of the most crucial instruments for preventing and reducing water pollution from agricultural activities is the EU Nitrate Directive, adopted in 1991. The main stages of the Directive implementation include:

  • Identification of nitrate vulnerable zones.
  • Adoption and dissemination of the Code of Best Agricultural Practices among farmers, which is voluntary for all.
  • Adoption and implementation of an Action Program to reduce nitrate pollution in vulnerable zones or throughout the country. The measures envisaged by such a program are already mandatory for farmers. Systematic water monitoring to identify pollution trends.
  • Monitoring the effectiveness of the Action Program measures and making necessary adjustments to reduce nitrate pollution.

The Ecoaction team works at both the national and local levels. At the national level, we cooperate with ministries and scientific institutes to develop regulations that create a framework for implementing the Directive, including realising best agricultural practices. At the local level, we engage with agricultural advisory services to raise awareness of EU environmental requirements and work together to reduce water pollution from agriculture.

We also continue to support communities that are negatively impacted by livestock farms and work with them to find solutions to mitigate the impact and improve the quality of life in rural areas.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the issue of efficient fertiliser use has become even more critical. The production of mineral fertilisers is largely dependent on natural gas, and thus on the resources of the aggressor country. That is why it is important to use the resources available in Ukraine rationally, preserve soil fertility and reduce dependence on imports.

If you are interested in this topic, please contact us via the email info@ecoaction.org.ua

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