Depletion of Ukraine’s Soils Threatens Long-Term Global Food Security
Researchers from the UK, Ukraine, and the Netherlands warn that the war is jeopardizing Ukraine's long-term ability to remain the 'breadbasket of Europe' due to soil nutrient depletion.
The main cause of this depletion is the removal of vital crop nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium from soils via harvested crops, with not enough being added back in.
- Reduced access to fertilisers during the war
- Inefficient farming practices
- Military activity exacerbating existing degradation and erosion of soils
The war is jeopardising the country’s long-term ability to remain the ‘breadbasket of Europe’
This situation affects not only Ukraine's food exports but also global food security.
Author's summary: Soil nutrient depletion threatens Ukraine's crop production.