GreenUkraine.CH

I am honored to participate in the upcoming "Liberty, Equality, Innovations: Digital Tools and Data for Ukrainian Recovery" conference, organized by UNITAC Hamburg and the Kyiv School of Economics. This event will bring together experts, policymakers, and researchers to discuss data-driven and people-centered approaches to rebuilding Ukraine’s cities and communities. As part of Podium 4: From Vision to Implementation, I will present insights from our research conducted by Сумський національний аграрний університет (Sumy National Agrarian University) and the Royal Agricultural University , in cooperation with BFH-HAFL. Our focus will be on assessing the impact of war on soil and environmental recovery in post-war Ukraine. The discussion will explore how international expertise, digital tools, and governance frameworks can support Ukraine’s reconstruction while ensuring environmental sustainability. I look forward to engaging with fellow experts and stakeholders committed to Ukraine’s recovery! Let’s collaborate and drive meaningful change together. 📍 Kyiv & Hamburg 📅 February 19–20, 2025 #UkraineRecovery #EnvironmentalResilience #DigitalInnovation #SustainableReconstruction

🌱 Healing Ukraine's War-Torn Soils 🇺🇦 The war in Ukraine has devastated its fertile lands, leaving behind craters and contamination. We are happy, that the initiative was recently supported by IWM - Institut für die Wissenschaften vom Menschen through the Documenting Ukraine program, is addressing this crisis by documenting the damage and promoting natural soil treatments for recovery. The supported project focuses on: 🌍 Documenting Damage: Identifying affected farmlands. 📢 Local Engagement: Collecting testimonials from farmers. 🌱Restoration Efforts: Implementing sustainable soil remediation techniques. Each restored acre symbolizes resilience, aiming to rebuild livelihoods and ensure food security. 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eVU2Z74a #IWM #GreenUkraine #SoilRestoration #SupportUkraine #Sustainability

Honorary professor at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) and sustainable-development researcher, Olena Melnyk, recently spoke to Nature Magazine about moving from Sumy to Zurich, her experience of switching her research focus, and the importance of project management in research. She’s currently coordinating a project to analyse soil contamination resulting from Russian bombing and to develop soil-remediation strategies for farmland. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eZdFK5yR

🌍 Tackling Environmental Challenges of Agrarian Land Remediation in Ukraine 🇺🇦 At the recent Environmental Issues and Mine Action (EIMA) workshop, Dr. Olena Melnyk delivered a compelling presentation on the intersection of humanitarian demining and environmental restoration, shedding light on the urgent need to address land remediation in Ukraine for global food security. 🔎 Key Insights from Dr. Melnyk's Presentation: The Extent of Environmental Damage: Ukraine, home to 30% of the world's black soil, faces a crisis with over 139,000 km² of land with risk of potential contamination. This includes areas with up to 5 mines per square meter, as well as harmful levels of heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and explosives—posing severe risks to agriculture and public health. Global Food Security at Risk: As a major exporter, Ukraine's agricultural output feeds 400 million people worldwide. Soil contamination threatens not only local farming but also international food supply chains, increasing the risk of a global food crisis. A Call for Immediate Action: Delayed remediation risks long-term harm to agriculture and export capacity. A Comprehensive Restoration Planis essential to support sustainable recovery. 🌱  Our Achievements: Research and Soil Analysis: Protocols have been used to assess 800 soil samples across 45 farmlands, with testing conducted in labs across Ukraine, Switzerland, and the UK. Mapping and Monitoring: A dynamic map categorizes land for farming, remediation, or conservation, providing actionable insights for local farmers and international experts. Training Programs: Over 50 Ukrainian experts, including former soldiers and their families, have been trained in soil assessment and remediation. Restoration Techniques: A mix of advanced reclamation technologies and natural regeneration methods ensures sustainable outcomes. 🌾 Global Implications Ukraine’s experience may become a model for post-conflict land recovery, offering case-studies for countries worldwide struggling with environmental restoration and food security challenges. By addressing these issues now, Ukraine can lay the foundation for long-term recovery, even before the end of the war.   💡 Our current project in collaboration with The HALO Trust exemplifies this approach, reinforcing the urgency and practicality of immediate action. #GreenUkraine #SustainableAgriculture #MineAction #SoilRestoration #GlobalFoodSecurity

🌍 Tackling the Intersection of Environmental Challenges and Humanitarian Demining in Ukraine 🇺🇦 Are you interested in the challenges faced by scientists and humanitarian demining operators in Ukraine The upcoming Environmental Issues and Mine Action (EIMA) meeting is the perfect platform to explore these critical issues, bringing together key players such as: 🔹 FSD (Fondation suisse de déminage) 🔹 Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) 🔹 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 🔹 The HALO Trust 🔹 Mine Action Review 🔹 MAG (Mines Advisory Group) 🔹 International Committee of the Red Cross - ICRC 🔹 Norwegian People's Aid / Norsk Folkehjelp (NPA), and more. 🌱 Highlighting Sustainable Solutions Dr. Olena Melnyk, representing Сумський національний аграрний університет (Sumy National Agrarian University) and Royal Agricultural University (UK), will discuss the immense scale of land contamination in Ukraine and emphasize the crucial need to analyze soil conditions alongside demining efforts to support sustainable agriculture. 📅 When? Wednesday, 20 November 2024, 14:00 – 15:00 CET 💡 Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with leading experts in humanitarian and environmental fields. 📅 Register for the meeting here: https://lnkd.in/e2YXkj86 Let’s work together to restore Ukraine’s lands and secure a sustainable future! 🌾 #GreenUkraine #MineAction #SustainableAgriculture #SoilRestoration #HumanitarianDemining #UkraineRecovery #FoodSecurity #ClimateAction #ESG

Fantastic news! Congradulations, Mark Horton!!

Congratulations to Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research & Enterprise) Professor Mark Horton for recently being elected to the National Trust Council at the Trust’s 129th Annual General Meeting which was held in the Newcastle Civic Centre and online. The Council is the governing body which appoints trustees and helps to monitor and support their work. The Council is made up of 36 members who have a range of expertise in everything from education and agriculture to nature and the built environment. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3CkJo1R

Why is it so crucial to study Ukrainian soils affected by military actions? There are several reasons for this. First and foremost, Ukraine is a key player in #globalfoodsecurity, a role that is only expected to grow as #climatechange intensifies. Secondly, humanity is now facing such extensive damage to soil ecosystems for the first time while having access to the latest technologies that can significantly speed up research and solution-finding. Although the impacts of wars in the 20th century were also incredibly severe, climate change issues were not yet as pressing, and scientists did not have the tools they do today—from geospatial scanning to the use of drones and portable soil-scanning devices. Our incredable colleagues, Professor Mark Horton and Dr. David O'Connor from Royal Agricultural University, UK, share insights on this topic. While we aim not to preempt the findings, we are pleased to share some preliminary optimistic news: our initial fears of catastrophic scenarios have thankfully not been confirmed by our analysis results from the first sampling sites, which is excellent news for Ukrainian farmers. However, it's too premature to draw any conclusions—we are just at the very beginning of this journey. Our main message: this is a massive, long-term challenge that requires immediate attention and high-quality analysis. Join us! Recognizing the problem is an important first step towards change! #SoilHealth #SustainableAgriculture #ClimateAction #UkraineRecovery #AgriculturalResilience #AgriculturalTechnology #EnvironmentalScience #EcosystemRestoration #ResearchAndInnovation

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