Ukraine

Ukraine is a large nation in Eastern Europe covering approximately 603,000 km². Its landscape is dominated by fertile plains and plateaus, particularly the Black Sea Steppe, with mountain ranges such as the Carpathians in the west and the Crimean Mountains in the south. Ukraine has a temperate continental climate, with warm summers and cold winters, providing highly favorable conditions for agriculture, particularly in the fertile black soil (chernozem) regions.

Historically, Ukraine has been inhabited by various Slavic peoples and was influenced by the Kievan Rus, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the Russian Empire. It became a founding republic of the Soviet Union and declared independence in 1991. Today, Ukraine has a population of about 41 million people, with the capital city located in Kyiv.

Ukraine is one of the most agriculturally significant countries in the world, with farming forming the backbone of its primary sector. Out of its roughly 603,700 km² total area, about 70% of the land is used for agriculture, and approximately 56–58% is classified as arable land — one of the highest shares globally. This is made possible by the country’s exceptionally fertile chernozem (black soil), which covers around two-thirds of the territory and is among the richest soils on Earth in terms of humus content.

Agriculture typically contributes around 10–12% of GDP and accounts for about 40–50% of total export revenues, making it a critical pillar of the national economy. Ukraine ranks among the world’s leading producers of grain and oilseeds. In a typical year, total grain harvests range between 60 and 80 million tonnes.

Wheat is the most important crop, with annual production often reaching 20–25 million tonnes. Maize (corn) has become equally significant, frequently exceeding 30 million tonnes per year, while barley production usually falls between 6 and 10 million tonnes. Ukraine is also a global powerhouse in oilseed cultivation. It produces roughly 13–15 million tonnes of sunflower seeds annually and has been the world’s largest exporter of sunflower oil, supplying close to 50% of global exports in some years. Other key crops include: Sugar beet (historically important, though declining), Rapeseed, Soybeans, Potatoes (annual production often above 20 million tonnes), Vegetables and fruits, especially in southern and western regions. Livestock farming plays a smaller but still relevant role. Ukraine’s cattle population is around 3 million head, while pig numbers fluctuate around 5–6 million and poultry exceeds 200 million birds. Milk production typically totals 8–9 million tonnes annually, although this has declined since the 1990s due to structural changes in the rural economy.

Forestry is less dominant but still economically relevant. Forests cover about 9.5–10.5 million hectares, equivalent to roughly 16–17% of Ukraine’s land area. The main forest zones are located in the Carpathian Mountains and the northern Polissya region. The forestry sector produces approximately 15–20 million cubic metres of timber annually, significant quantities of fuelwood, industrial wood used in construction, paper, and furniture production. Common tree species include: pine (dominant in the north), oak, beech, spruce (particularly in the Carpathians).

Ukraine’s forests also play an important ecological role in soil protection and watershed regulation, especially in mountainous areas prone to erosion.

Overall, Ukraine’s primary sector remains heavily land-based and export-oriented, with vast mechanised farms dominating grain and oilseed production, while forestry provides steady raw materials and environmental services despite covering a relatively modest share of the territory.

In April 2008 Gerold was in Kiev for the first time, at an organic farming conference. It was very well attended and he liked the city very much. There were many Orthodox churches in the old town, well preserved and freshly renovated. On an excursion he was on a black earth ground for the first time in my life. Otherwise he connect Ukraine with Chernobyl, the GAU of the nuclear power plant in 1986, which made me a real Green. 2015 he was again in Kiev, for a conference. The country has developed very fast. It was, before Ukraine were in war with Russia (2014, 2022ff).