Ukraine, known as “the breadbasket of Europe”, is the world’s largest producer of sunflower seeds. It also ranks among the top 10 producers of corn, barley, rapeseed, wheat and soybeans. 25% of the world’s “black soil”, ideal for growing crops like wheat, cotton, oilseeds, but also cereals, fruit and vegetables, is in Ukraine, and agriculture accounts for 9.3% of the country’s GDP.
The invasion has prompted new concerns and discussion around food security and international reliance on production.
In recent years, tech-enabled solutions to make agriculture more sustainable have also been key drivers of food security. While much food security discussion revolved around the impact of changing climates, the last week has shown that war can be just as devastating as extreme weather to international food supply.
Food startups and innovation impacting food security:
Vertical farming: the common arguments in favor of vertical farming are that by moving production closer to the point of consumption, it reduces both costs and climate impact, but it also reduces the risk of disruption during times of geopolitical uncertainty. Vertical farming startups working on easy-to-transport units (e.g. INFARM) could have an imminent impact. 100+ startups
Farm management: Crop monitoring technologies can enable farmers to use efficiently scarce resources. For example, Swiss-based Gamaya uses hyperspectral imagery analytics and machine learning to help farmers optimise crop yields. 350+ startups
Zero hunger: globally, there are 571 startups aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goal #2 to eradicate hunger and achieve food security.
Ukraine is an agricultural superpower and the consequences of the war will be felt throughout the world. 🌻
