FCH seeks to revitalize war-damaged land in Ukraine with NATO support

Experts from the Faculty of Chemistry at Brno University of Technology (BUT) are working to restore agricultural land in Ukraine as part of an international collaboration. Over the next two years, Czech and Ukrainian scientists will team up to monitor and analyze the condition of Ukrainian farmland damaged by military operations. The project is funded by NATO.

The goal is to exchange expertise and laboratory methods for soil analysis to determine the extent of contamination caused by the war. The results will be crucial not only for food security but also for developing procedures to revitalize the damaged areas.

Global Food Security at Stake

Ukraine is one of the world’s top exporters of sunflower oil and a major producer of grain, corn, sugar, honey, eggs, and poultry. The quality of its agricultural production depends on the condition of approximately 42 million hectares of farmland. Since Russia's invasion in February 2022, much of this land has been damaged by military equipment or contaminated by chemicals. The ecological disaster caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam last year only highlighted the urgency of addressing these issues, which will likely persist for decades.

The United Nations considers Ukraine's agricultural production vital to solving the global food crisis. Restoring this land is essential for Ukraine to meet its international obligations and help alleviate world hunger.

The Faculty of Chemistry at BUT has stepped up to help with these environmental challenges. In collaboration with the Ukrainian Association of Innovation Laboratories, they are leading a project called "Improving the Monitoring of the State of Agricultural Land Affected by Military Operations," funded by NATO’s Science for Peace and Security Programme. NATO is providing funding, expert advice, and safety support for the researchers throughout the project.

Technical Expertise from FCH

The Department of Physical and Consumer Chemistry at BUT is managing the technical aspects of the project, with Professor Miloslav Pekař as Principal Investigator. “Our participation is based on our long-standing expertise in soil organic matter and its physico-chemical characterization,” Pekař explains. The Czech team is focusing on the organic components of soil samples, examining content and possible changes in structure or composition. The Ukrainian team will focus on the physical properties of the soil.

New laboratory equipment will be acquired through the project to analyze soil samples, helping identify nutrients and potential contaminants. While the Ukrainian side will conduct granulometric analysis of soil conditions, the Czech side will examine the organic matter content. The results will form the basis for agronomic recommendations to optimize agricultural practices in Ukraine. The entire collaboration will be documented in a short film to be published on the project’s website.

A Milestone for BUT

This is the first project of its kind approved by BUT. “Cooperating with NATO is prestigious and provides a chance to share expertise, research data, and solutions to current security challenges,” says Eva Maršalová, the project’s main manager. She believes this collaboration will elevate BUT’s international reputation and strengthen research ties between the Czech Republic and Ukraine.

For the research team, this partnership with NATO is a significant milestone. “It’s a great opportunity to advance in my field, gain practical experience, and build international connections. I find it personally fulfilling to work on a project that contributes to improving food security,” says Maršalová, who coordinates between team members, foreign partners, and the grant provider.

One of the biggest challenges, she notes, is overcoming the language barrier and managing the administrative complexity of an international project. Technical difficulties, such as Ukraine's unstable electricity supply, complicate communication. A constant risk throughout the project is the threat of missile strikes, so the Ukrainian team must closely monitor state warning notifications.

Once completed, the project’s results will support national and international programs focused on restoring agricultural land and production. Both Czech and Ukrainian teams plan to apply their expertise to other international projects, contributing to the sustainability of agricultural land globally.

Source: Faculty of Chemistry