Use case 7: Higher efficiency for higher yields to safeguard food security in Ukraine
Overview:
Ukraine’s agriculture faces severe challenges due to war-related damages, with sown areas in 2023 reduced by over 20% and production costs rising by 60%. Despite these challenges, Ukraine must safeguard its food security and maintain its role as a key exporter to global markets. Our use case aims to optimize agricultural inputs while improving yields through smart farming technologies, specifically targeting soil management, variable-rate applications, and data digitalization.
Challenges:
- Reduced Agricultural Land: Damage to farming areas due to conflict has reduced available cropland by over 20%, putting pressure on remaining lands.
- High Production Costs: War-related disruptions have pushed up costs by 60%, making farming less profitable.
- Complex Agronomic Needs: With diverse soil types and climatic conditions across Ukraine, tailored management solutions are critical to maximizing efficiency.
- Mine-affected Areas: Recently demined fields require special attention to restore them to productive use.
Smart Farming Applications involved:
- Variable-rate liming
- Variable-rate macronutrient fertilisation
- Variable-rate seeding
Expected Outcomes:
- Increased Yields: By optimizing inputs and farming practices, yields are expected to rise significantly, contributing to national food security.
- Cost Reduction: Inputs like fertilizers and seeds can be reduced by up to 50%, cutting production costs.
- Sustainable Resource Use: Resource-efficient farming practices will improve environmental sustainability and ensure better long-term soil health.
- Faster Field Recovery: Recently demined fields will be restored to production, demonstrating the potential for rapid recovery.
- Educational and Demonstrative Impact: Our project partner Agrilab will host educational seminars and field demonstrations to encourage broader adoption of these smart farming solutions.